EXCERPT: We drive in an increasingly taut and expectant silence down the road, the trees on either side of the narrow dirt track looming above, dark and menacing, or maybe that's just me, reading into a difficult situation. After all, none of us really want to be here.
Thanksgiving is in just over a week, and we're meant to be having turkey, watching football, relaxing - reveling in our comfortable home back in Westport, Connecticut, in front of the big screen TV, the turkey in the oven, spinach dip and pita chips on the coffee table, a bottle of red breathing on the sideboard. Except that home isn't ours anymore and we had nowhere else to go but here - my parent's ramshackle cabin in rural Ontario, Canada that hasn't had a single visitor in seven years.
This is a chance to reset, I remind myself. Reboot. Refresh. Re-something. Take deep breaths and mindfully remember what is good about life, what we're grateful for . . . or so all the glossy magazines and curated Instagram feeds tell me. All I need is a matcha iced tea and the space to recalibrate. Throw in a yoga mat and it's all good.
I close my eyes against the dark, winding road. It didn't take much to make me cynical, and yet I still want to believe in it all. I want to believe that six weeks away from reality is really what we need to restart our lives, get them back, much better than ever.

ABOUT 'THE LAST STARS IN THE SKY': “Mom, why are you so mad at Dad?”

“I’m not,” I say, which isn’t exactly true. Putting on a brave face for my two young daughters—pretending everything is fine in my marriage—has been hard. That, and losing the house after Daniel lied to me.

I never expected to have to uproot my family to go live in my parents’ isolated cottage on Lost Lake. It’s twenty miles to the nearest town, an insignificant speck in endless pine forests. Nobody’s lived here for a decade.

Now, I pick up a rusty pail from its nest of autumn leaves and turn to my daughter. Suddenly, I recall how I used to help my own mother pick wild strawberries up here as a little girl. Maybe, this isn’t a punishment. Maybe this place will be the making of our family.

I’m still thinking it when my daughter rests her silky head on my shoulder that evening in the flickering firelight. And when, over a steaming cup of coffee at dawn, I watch a single loon cut a course through the mirrored surface of Lost Lake.

Later, I’ll hold on to these memories—ghostly shreds of another life. Because just eight hours after I sat on that sofa, feeling so hopeful, the world as I knew it—as anyone knew it—was gone for good.

MY THOUGHTS: The Last Stars in the Sky was a complete surprise to me. I automatically request Kate Hewitt's books. I think that there has only ever been one that I have been a bit ho-hum about.
I was expecting a family drama and, yes, that is certainly what I got but not in the format I was expecting!

Kate Hewitt continues to amaze me with the versatility of her writing. I almost stopped reading when the 'big event' happened, but I am so glad I didn't. Kate took me on a journey is scarily realistic and quite probably going to happen at some point in the future.

She chronicles the changes to this 'entitled' family as they struggle for survival at the most basic level; how their priorities suddenly change and they hone skills they never knew they had.

The characters are complex and it was exciting watching as they adapt to their new circumstances, developed resilience and learned to think differently - in terms of survival rather than wants. Alex amazed me, as did Mattie. As they faced more difficulties, their personalities slowly grew into people I actually liked.

This is not an easy read in places. Daniel's journey to rescue their son Sam from his college is harrowing. It could have been a book all on its own. I don't know that I liked the ending - it's a cliffhanger. The jury is still out on that one. But as for the rest of the read, I unexpectedly really enjoyed it and read the whole book in just over a day.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#TheLastStarsintheSky #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Kate likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Brilliant book. Loved it from the start to finish. Admirable Characters and their struggles and tremendous strength is something I admired a lot. Fast paced and engaging throughout. Courage in the time of tragedy is the main strong point of the story. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt is a departure. In takes place in the Ontario wilderness mostly, after a nuclear attack on multiple cities in the US and Canada. There is no communication: no television, no internet, so Alex and Daniel work to survive and save their family: Mattie and Ruby, their daughters, and Sam their son who was in college. The four had arrived at her parents’ cabin to recover from the trauma of Daniel losing his job, lying about it, and then losing their house. Mattie, at almost 14, had hooked up with a boy who was trouble and so they decided on this reset. The reset probably saved their lives.

It is a story of survival, of doing things one never dreamed they were capable of. As Daniel took off in their car to bring Sam home, the women set about trying to survive and plan for whatever future there was. The most stark thing about this novel is the two types of reactions people seemed to have. Some were willing to help and do whatever was necessary to survive. The others, thwarted bullies in most cases, just wanted to survive and they raped and pillaged to accomplish that. Several people joined Alex and the girls at the cabin and they were making progress toward sustainability. It had been five months since Daniel had left and they had given up hope that he was still alive. The government turned out to be useless and many of the bullies came from their ranks. It, as most post-apocalyptic novels are, is bleak, but full of the human spirit, which can accomplish much when pressed All too realistic. Thanks Kate Hewitt for giving us a peek into the future. Let’s hope it remains fiction.

I was invited to read The Last Stars in the Sky by Storm Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StormPublishing #KateHewitt #TheLastStarsInTheSky

This book really surprised me. It was amazing.
It's about keeping your family together post nuclear attacks on America. I loved all the characters!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Just wow! My first book from this author but definitely not my last. What an incredible writer. The characters were amazingly thought out - from their personalities, to their interactions, to the changes they went through, just spectacular. The storyline was creative and well thought out. Everything was perfectly descriptive - at times I was able to fully transport myself into this book. Honestly, I could not put this down and can’t wait to recommend it to friends!

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy

I loved the title of this book and hoped it would as good as it sounded. In fact, it was amazing. A lovely, cosy read for those winter nights. Thank you for the ARC.

What starts out as a trip to the old family lakeside cottage, neglected after the death of one grandparent and the failing health of the other rapidly turns dark as the world collapse around them.

The scene is beautifully set with the ramshackle old house in need of as much TLC as the familial relationships. As the world collapses the core characters find inner strengths they did not know they possessed as they struggle to reunite their eldest son with the family and protect their new homestead.
The whole plot is so possible a threat as to make it terrifying, particularly the speed at which society disintegrates. It left me pondering whether I would even want to be a survivor faced with that future!
A fast paced and emotional read.

I have just finished reading "The Last Stars in the Sky" by Kate Hewitt. Thanks you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is not the type of book I would normally read. It is about a family of five who journeys to their summer cabin in Canada to start anew after the husband loses his job and they lose the house. Alex, the wife feels as though an extended trop to the cabin will be the answer to reset their lives. The son Sam, stays at college and the rest of the family travels to the cabin. A few days after they arrive...there is a nuclear strike in the USA and they are left without food water or safety. With their future in jeapordt, Daniel (The Husband) leaves the family to go find ;Sam, while Alex, and her two daughters are left at the remote cabin to survive.

And survive they do...through resilience and sheer determination they learn to hunt, fish, forage in the woods, and suvive agains the odds...sometimes doing and seeing things they would never want to do. Meanwhile Daniel struggles to find Sam...and endures his own survival in what seems like horrible consequences.

The story culminates in some feel good moments...but ultimately, the family must work together to keep surviving, but at this point, the reader is fairly confident that they will all survive.

I loved the characters in this story. They were real and honest and scared and resilient when they had to be. There were some ugly moments but moments of great triumph as well. The suthor did an excellent job of showing both the wonderful and horribly ugly side of humanity.

I wish more time had been spent describing the journey of Daniel when he went looking for Sam. We still don't know what he did that was so awful...we can only imagine and maybe that is the whole point.

All in all...i liked this book ALOT! A welcome departure from my usual choices that tells the story of survival and sacrifice and the human spirit.

Happy Reading

I loved "The Last Stars in the Sky" by Kate Hewitt.

From the very beginning, the end of the world vibe had me hooked. Seriously, I couldn't put it down.... the emotions it stirred up were amazing, beautiful, heartbreaking but yet hopeful. 

The survival techniques, the courage displayed, and the bonds formed in the face of the end are captivating. A truly resilient and grabbing journey.


This was my first book by the author and I'm so grateful to netgalley for my review copy .

Happy Publication Day!
Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for and Arc in exchange for and honest review!

Went into this book blind, not knowing what it was about or have never heard of the author. The book started out a little slow, but 1/4 of the way in it picked up! The was an excellent story of disaster, family, survival. I couldn’t put it down, highly recommend. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions. I will definitely be reading more of Kate Hewitt’s books.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

The story of Alex and her family, when they decide to come to the ramshackle cottage of her parents in Ontario, for a short period.

Alex is aware that the cottage hasn’t been lived in for a long time and it’ll be different kind of living the children than they are used to. But feel it’s won’t be as difficult as what they’ve had happen in their lives so far.

The story had me hooked from the beginning, hoping that things worked out for Alex and her family.

I highly recommend this book.

Unique and powerful. Such an emotional, thoughtful, and - let’s face it - frightening, story.. Frightening in its possibility, one can’t help but love the characters, the “reluctant heroes.:”. Not like Hewitt’s other works.

Oh my word. Such a beautiful, heartfelt read. This is my first book by this writer but not my last. I loved it. When everyone in your life lets you down what do you do. There’s nothing you can do but carry on. Read it!

An emotional and heartbreaking read that keeps you turning the page to the final chapter. An unexpected and original story. I love the mother's determination in the face of everything that happens.

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Well-written book yet very heavy and depressing. Definitely an emotional, thought-provoking story that will bring a reader to tears with the destruction and characters resilience love, loss and tragedy.

This book was such a thriller!

I didn’t read the synopsis of this book or I didn’t remember what it was about. I honestly thought it was a completely different genre and the cover is a little deceiving… but I was pleasantly surprised. It was such a great twist and I enjoyed it.

This review is 100% subjective. I loved this book. I was so invested in this book. But the last 10-15% totally ruined it for me.

Wow! Not at all what I expected from the brief summary . I probably wouldn't have read it if I had known, but I am glad I did. Very well written story. So poignant. Wish I had a litter more closure at the end inr regards to the parents relationship.

The Last Stars in the Sky is a jump in genres for Kate Hewitt. I have read her contemporary romance, historical and women’s fiction. I guess I never expected her to write a speculative dystopian fiction story. But write one she did, bringing her A game to this story.

The plot is complex and hauntingly realistic, with vivid landscape both in the crumbling world as well as in the quiet nature by the lake. The characters are complex, making you imagine if you would have been able to survive and react as they did. It was especially well done with Danile’s and Alex’s perspectives especially after they were separated. I turned pages as quickly I could read them to see who survived and who didn’t. There are some good and bad twists as the story progressed but so seemingly real. I was right there with this family as they discovered what they are made of deep down.

My only sorrow is the reader is not told if there will be a sequel. I so want to know what happens to this unforgettable family as time goes on. I want to know who drop those bombs, why they did it and if law and order can be restored? What a thrilling story.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alex and Daniel have escaped to their cabin in Canada.
They only planned on being there for six weeks or so. Neither one expected what was to happen.
I thought this was a well written and very intense book.
It was hard to read at times but I couldn’t stop not reading either. It’s a page turner that really leaves you thinking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm publishing for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 Stars!!

Wow I would just like to start by saying that this book surprised me and was much more emotional than I thought it would be. I became so invested in each of the character's dynamic and what each of them did for survival. The pace of the story was spot on for me. It kept me glued throughout the entire thing. Also, this story made me realize that I might not survive the same situation lol.

I highly recommend this book!