Charlotte James prefers having her head in the stars to having her feet on the ground.

Moving around for her job as an astronomical archivist gives Charlotte plenty of opportunity to avoid putting down roots. When she accepts a post in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition, all that is on her mind is a chance to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and another summer without having to settle down.

Tristan Ashcombe is managing the development of Observatory Field and as far as he’s concerned, the sooner the observatory is razed to the ground the better. The building holds complicated memories for him and his family, memories he’s ready to put behind him.

But as Charlotte’s work begins to unravel mysteries from a complex past, she realises that there’s more to Tristan and Lower Brambleton than first impressions would suggest. Will Charlotte discover more than she bargained for, will she manage to avoid losing her heart in the process or is her fate already written in the stars?

Loved it. Will recommend to others

This is the first book in a new series. It is a promising start, and I am looking forward to reading the next book.
It was an enjoyable and interesting read, with likeable characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my arc.

A Sky Full of Stars by Fay Keenan is a charming and heartfelt romance with a beautifully atmospheric setting. Charlotte’s journey of uncovering the observatory’s secrets while slowly connecting with Tristan is touching and engaging. I enjoyed this warm and uplifting story and rated it five stars.

I really loved everything about this book. The setting was so easy to picture and was a place I wanted to visit after reading. I appreciated the thoughtful depiction of mental health, particularly in a male character. The romance element felt so natural and not at all forced or manufactured. The “misunderstandings” and challenges felt believable and drove the character development.

A Sky Full of Stars is a beautifully heartfelt and engaging debut from a new author to me. Fay crafts a touching story about love, loss, and hope, with characters who feel authentic and relatable.

The emotional depth and vivid setting drew me in from the start, and the narrative unfolds with warmth and sensitivity.

I’m excited to read more from Fay Keenan in the future.

Romantic, uplifting, and full of small-town charm ✨🏡. A Sky Full of Stars is a heartwarming escape to the countryside with lovable characters, heartfelt moments, and the perfect touch of romance. Fay Keenan crafts a story that feels cosy and comforting, with an emotional journey of healing and second chances. I adored the community spirit, the gentle humour, and the sparkling chemistry. Ideal for fans of feel-good fiction with a lot of heart.

In this unique and interesting new novel, readers follow astronomical archivist Charlotte as she arrives for a job in Lower Brambleton, a village in Somerset, to archive the contents of an old observatory slated for demolition where she meets Tristan Ashcombe, who’s in charge of managing the project that will replace the observatory (and his complicated family memories). As she works on the observatory project, Charlotte discovers mysteries about Tristan’s family and Lower Brambleton that reveal much more about this place than she had imagined. A unique premise for a novel incredibly brought to life, readers will love Charlotte’s character development and her growing relationship with Tristan, who has his own unique path that readers will love. The characters are the stars of this novel, but the settings of Lower Brambleton and the observatory are equally important and are described in such vivid detail that they feel real. The emotional throughline and the mystery of the observatory are also well-written and pull readers into the story in some fantastic ways, and this adds a lot to characters’ development in the novel. Intriguing, whimsical, and entertaining, fans of Fay Keenan’s other books will love this charming and heartwarming cozy romance novel.

✨(eARC) Book Review✨

A Sky Full of Stars by Fay Keenan

Charlotte is an astrology archivist tasked with a summer project that takes her from her Uni living in Bristol to the remote, rural countryside of Lower Brambleton. Lodging with an older local, Lorelai, Charlotte quickly learns that she’s landed even closer to the historical significance of the Observatory that she’s archiving before its demolition.

I have to admit that this one just didn’t do it for me. I seriously considered not finishing it and didn’t find sticking it out to be that worthwhile. On the whole, the novel is quite bland. The characters felt very surface level—I wasn’t emotionally invested in their stories at all. For being marketed as a romance, I didn’t feel any chemistry between the love interests. Comet, the cocker spaniel, is hands down the best character. Aside from him, though, I just didn’t care what happened.

There seemed to be some pacing problems too. Things are quite slow-paced throughout, and once we reach the climax of the story, everything felt rushed and glossed over, like it was only finished because of an immediate deadline. The brief resolution was worsened by the novel’s tendency to tell rather than show. I was being told about a couple falling in love, but I wasn’t shown them falling in love.

The best parts of this book are the beautiful descriptions of the cities and buildings and interiors. It by no means was poorly-written. It just suffered from a lack of story-telling.

Overall, I really don’t recommend this one. I think this author has better books out there to try instead.

Thanks to @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

📖: (2.5/5) ⭐️⭐️💫

This is an enjoyable escapist read with the central character,
Charlotte removed from her usual life in the city of Bristol and settled in the countryside for the summer away from all her familiar sights and friends. Her life as an archivist means that she enjoys working alone and is looking forward to this the first of her solo jobs. Employed to archive all the paperwork from an now ruined Observation Tower, she finds a mystery within the paperwork which she is compelled to follow. Charlotte takes to village life and finds herself making new friendships.

Tristan Ashcombe , who Charlotte meets early in the story, turns out to be a very complicated character with a family connection to the Observation Tower Charlotte is working in. Charlotte is staying in the annexe to his grandmother's bungalow, a feisty and sharp lady who Charlotte strikes up a friendship with. I also enjoyed getting to know Charlotte's little cocker spaniel, a mischievous but lovable scamp who plays a part in the story. This is an entertaining story which turns up a few surprises and introduces some warm and likeable characters.

In short: romance and mystery

To start off with - i love the dog and i love that the main character has a STEM job but it was a little too slow to get started and once it did, i just didnt feel connected to the main story. For me, the side story was more interesting.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book. I loved the fact that it wasn't just a straight romance, there were other elements of the main characters lives mixed in as well. Those are my favorite kind of romance novels!

BOOK: A SKY FULL OF STARS
AUTHOR: FAY KEENAN
PUB DATE: MARCH, 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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THINGS I LIKED
1. The mystery regarding the MMC's parents astronomical finding.
2. I liked the FMC, her job was cool and she was okay
3. I liked the book's premises and setting
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THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. The romance between the MCs was too fast and unremarkable which was disappointing since it's supposed to be the main theme
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The book was okay in everything (astronomy related) except the romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

A Sky Full of Stars was such a charming read! Charlotte’s journey from city life to the cozy village of Little Somerby was heartwarming. 🏙️➡️🏡

The astronomy theme added a unique touch, and the slow-burn romance was just the right amount of sweet. 💫💕

Fay Keenan’s writing made the village come alive, and I felt like I was right there with the characters.

While it didn’t quite reach 5 stars for me, it’s a solid 4-star read that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a touch of stargazing magic. 🌟📖

A little mystery, a lot of love, family, friends - this book has it all, even dogs. An easy, heartwarming read that grips you from the outset. The characters are warm and friendly and it's the perfect summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The pacing on this book was a bit too slow for me - I really struggled with getting into enjoying the characters as a result of this. I loved the location however; it was beautiful and so gripping - I really like it when I can truly feel immersed in the location of the book. As a romance this book falls incredibly flat, but I enjoyed the story overall.

A beautifully written romance set in the sleepy Somerset village of Lower Brambleton. When astronomy archivist Charlotte James takes on a summer project to catalog a forgotten observatory, she’s not expecting to uncover family secrets—or fall for the charming but guarded Tristan Ashcombe. With its dreamy countryside setting, stargazing magic, and a story full of heart, this book is perfect for fans of slow-burn romance and second chances.

Charlotte meets Tristan when she takes a job archiving an old astronomy site in the countryside. They don't get off to the best start, as the book progresses, family secrets are revealed, but what will happen when Charlotte returns to her job at the university?

"A Sky Full of Stars" by Fay Keenan is a sweet and endearing contemporary romance novel with a lovely hint of intrigue. Based in the idyllic English countryside, the novel traces Charlotte, an astronomical archivist, who is hired to catalog the belongings of an unused observatory prior to its demolition.

Keenan is skilled at building a warm and welcoming setting, and the location of the ancient observatory creates a memorable and immersive background for the events about to unfold. The descriptions are rich, making it easy for the reader to visualize the charming village and the intriguing, history-filled observatory.
The characters are one of the novel's strongest points. Charlotte is a friendly and accessible heroine, and her dedication to her job comes across. The male hero, Tristan, who is overseeing the redevelopment scheme, is initially rather stiff but gradually unfolds to show depths to his character. Their early meetings are entertaining, and the gradual-burn romance that ensues between them is believable and compelling.
Added to the appeal are the supporting actors, especially Lorelai, the spunky older woman Charlotte lives with, and Comet, Charlotte's troublemaking dog, who unwittingly facilitates the bringing together of the main characters. These actors lend warmth and humor to the story.

Although the romance is the focus of the story, Keenan intertwines a very interesting mystery with the history of the observatory and Tristan's family. This adds an extra layer of interest and leaves the reader speculating, keeping the plot well-paced. How the mystery becomes intertwined with the growing relationship between Charlotte and Tristan comes naturally and adds to their interactions.

Overall, "A Sky Full of Stars" is a delightful read. It's an ideal read for those who love feel-good books with a dash of romance, an interesting setting, and well-rounded characters. Fay Keenan has written a warm, optimistic, and inspiring novel that will leave readers smiling. It's the type of book you can easily become immersed in and will probably recommend to others seeking a pleasant escape.

I have read many of Fays books so was delighted to receive this in advance of publication for an honest review. Charlotte had got herself a summer job in a small village in Somerset,archiving papers from an observatory that was getting knocked down. She was staying in the annexe of a house that was near to the observatory so she decided to take a walk with Comet,her dog,and see where she would be working. She bumped into a grumpy man who warned her off trespassing so not a good start. Tristan,who is in charge of the land surrounding the observatory which is going to be new houses. Charlotte bumps into the grumpy man when he turns up her her Landlady’s house,turns out Lorelei is Tristan’s gran and she brought him up and his sister up when his parents died in a car crash many years ago. Charlotte and Tristan are attracted to each other and their life’s are entwined as the observatory was a big part of his parents lives. An easy story and another great book from Fay,you must read it to see how things progress between Charlotte and Tristan.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me a copy of this book for my review. Having read the blurb on this book about an astronomical archivist, something I'd never heard of, I was quite intrigued to read more. We meet archivist Charlotte, who takes on a job over her summer holidays to try and save as much information as possible from an observatory which is about to be demolished. Whilst gathering up data, Charlotte finds herself unravelling more than just details about the stars.