Fay Keenan has done it again with this heartwarming romance where astronomical archivist Charlotte James finds herself in Lower Brambleton. She is there to archive the contents of the observatory before it is demolished to make way for a new housing development. Tristan Ashcombe is the person responsible for managing the development and thinks that the sooner the observatory is demolished the better. It’s not long before Charlotte realises that there is a very emotional and complex history attached to the site. The first meeting between Charlotte and Tristan doesn’t go too well but as they get to know each and she starts to unravel the secrets of the observatory they become closer. I loved how the characters interacted and how the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments were described. It was obvious that Fay has done her research on the topic of astronomy and I found elements of this fascinating. Can’t wait for the next one in what promises to be another great series from one of my favourite authors. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This started well with a really original protagonist and an interesting setting. Charlotte is an astronomical archivist at Bristol University and she is sent to archive the records of an observatory which is about to be pulled down. Definitely an unusual start for a cosy romance!

The story however meets the normal cosy standard where boy meets girl, they don't like each other, they fall in love, there's a misunderstanding, they split up........etc. etc. Nothing wrong with that of course but it did go on for rather a long time and I was not sufficiently involved with either of the characters to care much. So for me it was just a pleasant, light read. Three stars.

Charlotte first runs into Tristan when he thinks she’s a trespasser. She’s really there to archive an old observatory.
This is a slow evolving story. It has a good bit of description and a mystery to solve. There’s some romance added into the mix.

Charlotte has been assigned to record and box up the contents of a disused observatory that's being knocked down to make way for a housing estate. But the developers aren't the enemy, which is handy when you find out who's in charge of the project: the estate will be small, sustainable and bring in much-needed affordable housing for young people in the Somerset village it's located in. Charlotte's staying in the annexe of a feisty older woman, Lorelei, and of course everyone's conected to both the observatory and its history and the redevelopment, or has a strong, sometimes surprising opinion.

Charlotte meets developer Tristan in an embarassing incident when her dog, Comet, escapes into the observatory (the dog is fine throughout the book and pops up in the epilogue, too) and their friendship slowly develops over a number of weeks as she works hard on the project and meets more of the villagers. There is of course a romance: it's sweet, consent-aware and open door but not too detailed.

I loved the interesting topic, the pull between science and emotion and all the scientific metaphors in the writing, which was very cleverly done. Events and relationships felt believable and it was about much more than the romance. A good read.

Blog review will publish 23 March 2025 https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/03/23/book-review-fay-keenan-a-sky-full-of-stars/

It was a real treat to discover a new book by Fay Keenan, and even better, it looks like the start of a new series. Charlotte is a fabulous, fiercely independent protagonist, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her. Her work at the University of Bath led to the opportunity to archive and log the records at an observatory in Somerset, which is scheduled for demolition. She found a local holiday let in the annexe of a house in the local area and, accompanied by her little dog, slowly got to know her new landlady. We soon learn more about exactly how independent Charlotte is, and she really doesn’t need a man to complete her life.
Tristan is focused on project managing the demolition of the observatory at Lower Brambleton and overseeing the construction of the new housing development on the site. The hardest part of his responsibilities is the complicated memories that are wrapped up with the site’s past. I really took to Tristan and felt myself hoping that he would find the closure that he was clearly craving and lay the ghosts of his past to rest.
The clear but initially restrained attraction between Tristan and Charlotte made for a delicious romance that was equal parts perfect and messy. I particularly adored digging deeper into their shared connection. Although it may have seemed initially tenuous, the way their shared connection grew stronger was beautifully managed. Their reasons for being cautious were well-founded and totally relatable.
There are a number of terrific characters that we meet in this book that I can already imagine featuring in future stories. In particular, I would love to see Tristan’s sister find her happily ever after.
I’m always in awe of the skills of the authors from Boldwood Books and have thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the amazing books that they have created. I certainly enjoyed learning more about the stars, even though my husband used to love visiting his local observatory.

TLDR: An enjoyable read. The interwoven history, mystery and relationship development was done well and kept the story from feeling like plot points were being put to the side.

Spoiler free review:
In A Sky Full of Stars we have a two person split POV story told from the POV of Charlotte (FMC) and Tristan (MMC). Charlotte is an astronomy archivist who gets a summer assignment sorting through and archiving the remnants left at a once prominent but now defunct observatory slated for demolition in a small town in the British countryside. As she begins to develop relationships with some of the towns people, she starts to uncover more of the history of the observatory and unearths a long buried mystery. Tristan is managing the development of the land the observatory is on. He has past memories of the observatory that he is ready to put behind him and sees this project as a way to do that. Demolition of the observatory is all that is standing in the way of starting the build and putting the memories to rest.

Present day events in this book took place over a fairly short period of time but the pacing never felt rushed. The descriptions of the settings, while long, did make it easy to picture where the story was taking place. The interwoven history, mystery and relationship development kept me reading because I wanted to find out more about what was being unearthed despite the characters feeling a little flat to me and it also kept the book from feeling like one aspect of the story was more important than the other. Overall, I enjoyed this read.

Thank you Boldwood Books for the early reader copy.

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

Charlotte enjoys her job, as an astronomy archivist, and most of the time she works alone.

She moves to a village in Somerset for a new job which she thinks won’t take her long to do and hopefully will be back in her own surroundings.

But, after only a short time, Charlotte begins to enjoy being in the village and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

She’s also not sure of how she feels when she meets Tristan. Whilst she’s sorting out the documents to be sent for archiving, she finds some documents that concern the relations of her landlady.

Should she make her aware of what Charlotte has uncovered or keep it to herself? If she does tell, how does that impact on her feelings for Tristan?

I highly recommend this book.

A new series by a brilliant author. Yes I'm in.
The warmth and depth that these characters are written with makes you really feel you could know them,or picturing them doing about their storybook lives.
Charlotte is an astronomy archivist. She's used to relying on herself and most of time is just by herself. After accepting a new job in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton she thinks she will be in and out as usual. It's just a place. Just a job. Right? Nope.
Soon this little village seepsninto her skin. And new and wonderful ways. But at the same time confusing ways. She's not used to this. She is certainly not used to what she's feeling upon meeting and having close proximity to Tristan.
And then Charlotte comes across a mystery. Can she keep this possible thing quiet to protect those involved. Will it impact her and her new found feeling for Tristan, or her future. And what about how this place isn't just a job anymore. Definitely not adding a cute dog into the mix!

3.7 Stars
One Liner: A bit slow but nice

Charlotte is an astronomy archivist used to spending most of her time alone in old buildings, trying to digitize records and save them for the future. She accepts another such job in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition. It’s just another place for her, though quite a few locals are more than happy for the building to be razed so that they can move on.
Tristan Ashcombe is one such man. While the first impressions weren’t great, Tristan and Charlotte soon find themselves drawn to each other. As Charlotte finds something unusual in the old records, it presents a possibility of something significant for her and Tristan, but not without some risk.
The story comes in Charlotte (more %) and Tristan’s third-person POVs.
*
The story started slow and had the same pace almost throughout. However, I did like the descriptions of the place so it wasn’t boring. Locals might find it excessive but I like it when I can visualize a new setting.
The FMC’s career and her approach to it are well-presented. I like that she tries to balance between documenting and digitizing the past but not getting too attached to it.
Comet, the cocker spaniel is adorable! Cute dogs are always a plus in books. There are cute kids too, though we don’t meet them much.
The MMC is a grump with a golden heart and past trauma. It doesn’t take long for him to show his softer side.
However, the romance between the couple doesn’t feel organic. It’s too fast, with not enough chemistry to create the impact it should. Maybe they felt it but I couldn’t see it. Also, this should have been a slow burn.
The sort of mystery about the past had my attention coz it seemed like it had better potential than the love track. Do note that the mystery is not in the thriller sense but in the family drama vibe.
While there is a third-act breakup, it makes sense here. The message that it’s not our responsibility to ‘heal others’ but they should make an effort for themselves is spot on.
We get an epilogue too, which gives us a nice HEA. Another aspect I like is how development is not always damaging. Here, it creates the required infrastructure and housing without damaging the surroundings. It’s all about finding the right balance.

To summarize, A Sky Full of Stars is an entertaining story though the romance could have been better. The family dynamics are well done, though!
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This felt like it had such a lot packed in that it slowed the pace right down and therefore sadly took the edge off the enjoyment. With romance, mystery, complicated relationships and a huge amount of detail all drawn out, it was too much for me. Some nice moments but only an OK read for me.

This was a lovely comfort read. It had a nice mix of romance, mystery, and friendship. I truly appreciated that the romantic storyline had depth and felt more grounded than one typically finds in romance novels. I also found it very interesting to see the protagonist Charlotte’s involvement in the world of astronomy, something that has always fascinated me. This was a bit of a slow read for me at 5 hours total, as I paused periodically to research a few locations and phrases in order to familiarize myself with British terminology. Overall, a delightful cozy read that can be easily completed within a day.

Thanks to the author & publisher for the review.

This book didn't quite hit the mark for me, although there were a lot of things that I really liked about it.

Let's start with what worked:

* Firstly, the writing is really descriptive and eloquent. I really felt absorbed into the small, quaint town of Lower Brambleton and the Observatory, which is at the center of this plot.
* I loved all the characters - they felt really intimate and unique, which played into the small town feel
* Love LOVE the astronomy backdrop. I love books that explore new topics & settings - which is what convinced me to read this book in the first place

What I didn't like as much (personal preference):
* It was very very very slow burn. The first 30% of the book is just Charlotte exploring the town & Observatory. We don't really see Tristan till the second 30%.
* Once Tristan enters the scene - it all moves too quickly, almost like we're making up for lost time ...
* The suspense plot wasn't as interesting and some of the character reactions felt overblown - that was a bit of a letdown
* I wish the author had traded off some of the scene descriptions (as much as I loved them) for character's emotions and background - felt like we didn't get enough of the latter

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist who takes a summer job collating the records at an obsolete, decrepit observatory that is due to be demolished to make way for a development of new homes. She lodges with an old lady at the end of the village, a short walk from the observatory but on her first visit there she is met by a very rude man who accuses her of trespassing, only to find that he is Tristan, who is managing the development. Cue a potential romance between the two, but also a mystery found hidden in the records.
Set in an idyllic village in Somerset this, for me, is a great start as I enjoy books set in these small communities. Tristan is suffering from a tragic event in his past, related to the observatory, which he is still struggling to come to terms with.. It is interesting to see how these two start falling for each other against this backdrop. I also have a passing interest in astronomy, which added to the story for me, with that mystery party of this. In summary a slow burn romance, with astronomical connections and a touch of mystery.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I really enjoying reading this book, charlotte has just accepted a job at an old observatory and she’s excited to get started. She’s found accommodation with an old lady that will also accept her dog. She’s out a walk when she bumps into a very grumpy man, she doesn’t know that she will be working with him the next day. Will love blossom among the stars? This is a lighthearted feel good read, read in one sitting and found some parts funny. The characters and location are perfect and some truths that will uncover makes it a perfect read. A 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

"A Sky Full of Stars" surprised me in the best way possible! This is a love story...not a rom-com, but a love story full of complex emotions and deep family connections. Dr. Charlotte James takes a summer position in a small village in Lower Brambleton to take lead in the final archiving of historical material at Observatory Field. What she didn't know, is that this derelict observatory would be shrouded in mystery. Charlotte wasn't prepared to find original astronomical findings dating back decades and family secrets; she also definitely wasn't planning on falling in love with the town and its people...especially a certain someone with deep connections to the observatory.

Regarding content: this book was very low on spice (one description of sex that was really closed door and very few swear words. I would rate PG+.

The only thing that was difficult for me (as an American reader) is that this book was clearly written/set in the UK and full of British prose. There were many words that just aren't in my dialect. While distracting at times (only because I wanted to understand every single word in this wonderful book), I still completely loved it!. This story is also written in 3rd person (I know some readers do not prefer that styled). 4.5/5 stars for me! *I received a complimentary copy from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

🌟A Sky Full Of Stars🌟
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I never thought I'd fall in love with someone as special as you.”

This is an arc review and this book releases March 18th.

This small village, contemporary romance follows Charlotte who is an astronomical archivist who prefers having her head in the stars than her feet on the ground. She moves to an idyllic Somerset village to archive an old observatory before its demolition. Her goal is to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and enjoy another summer without settling down. Tristan is managing the development of Observatory Field and wants the observatory demolished due to painful memories associated with it. As Charlotte works on unraveling the mysteries of the observatory's past, she discovers more about Tristan and the village than she initially expected.

This was such a heart warming, feel good romance, it had a dash of history, just enough mystery and plenty of brilliant characters. I love a small village romance and this really hit a spot for me especially as a Bristolian, so I was getting really excited at the Bristol scenes and thinking IVE BEEN THERE! I will be recommending to friends and family members for an easy light read and will reach for other titles by this author in future.

I was drawn to this book by the front cover and it didn't disappont. It is well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters that I loved. I really enjoyed it. The storyline was engaging and really pulls you in, Love love love!

This was a really heartwarming book, with lots of interesting twists and turns in the backstory. I thoroughly recommend this book.

This is a heartwarming contemporary romance set in the English countryside. Charlotte James, an astronomical archivist, takes on a summer job cataloging an old observatory’s contents before its demolition. She meets Tristan Ashcombe, who is overseeing the site’s redevelopment and has personal reasons for wanting the observatory gone. As Charlotte uncovers hidden secrets about the observatory and its past, she and Tristan grow closer, challenging their initial perceptions. The novel blends romance, mystery, and self-discovery, offering an uplifting story about love, community, and new beginnings.

This book started off with a strong premise and a lot of potential. I binged the 1st 60% of the book in a day. But after that it went downhill. The story slowed down to a CRAWL and was such a chore to finish.

The chemistry between the two main characters never clicked for me and their story seemed too rushed. The writing was also too descriptive at times for my taste (I don't need to know every organic and artesian product on the grocery store shelves.)

The book did have a cozy feel and a slight air of mystery which helped me push through the last 40% of the book.

I received a free arc of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.