Wow, I was already a huge fan of Harriet Evans but I think this may be her best yet.
The book flits between time periods in the main character, Sarah’s life. We see her tragic childhood, her marriage in the 70’s and also her present life as a grandmother.
I think Harriet Evans really is the Queen of making a house integral to the story. Sarah grew up at Fane Hall, one of the finest stately homes in the country in its heyday. The house is pivotal to the plot, it is what drives Sarah’s mothers to be so terrible and destructive. Her treatment of Sarah and her sister Vic is horrific and it is fuelled by her obsession with Fane.
Fane is mirrored with Sarah’s marital home in Hampstead. It is not without its problems but the London home becomes a place of love and safety for her which she so desperately needed.
Sarah finds solace in playing the cello and I loved the way her instrument helped bring out her brave side. The only time she stands up to her mother is over her cello.
Sarah’s relationship with her husband, Daniel is a very interesting aspect of the book. In some ways he is the hero of the story but I loved how Evans’ still showed his flaws and his sometimes selfish behavior. So many things in this book are simply not black or white.
The Stargazers is definitely Harriet Evans’ darkest book. Sarah’s mother, Violet is terrifying a times. Her behavior is incredibly dark and sinister, I can’t stop thinking about how awful she is. The book reminded me a little of Jane Eyre in places, it is incredibly sad and frightening at times but there is a small glimmer of hope running throughout.
What a fantastic book, I would highly recommend.

The Stargazers is a beautiful and warm story about family, self-discovery, and the power of unconditional love.

Thank you for the ARC

Another triumph from Harriet Evans! This is a gripping, wholly absorbing story set over several connecting timelines, full of twists and surprises. The world-building is fantastic, and all the settings and characters seem entirely real, although there are some you certainly wouldn’t want to meet! I particularly loved the gradual revelation about the Bird Boy and how the significance of the title becomes more apparent as the book progresses. This is a brilliantly plotted, multi-layered story and I’m already looking forward to reading it again. Highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-ARC. I’ve read all of Harriet Evans’ novels and this is might be my favourite. It’s evocative and impossible to put down.

I loved this book, though it did make me shiver along the way. I'm not sure this is advertised as being a horror story, but it has lots of horrific parts. Happily, delicious little bursts of love and wonder happen along the way to lift the spirits when the anguish seems unsupportable. Full of family trauma, this might not be for everyone, as it could be triggering for anyone suffering childhood neglect and abuse. It definitely made me look back at some of the less salubrious parts of my own upbringing. But it comes right in the end, even if not in quite the way we might have expected. Recommended