I was asked by NetGalley to review this really good read.

This is set on a fictional island within the Thames.

The people who live there are arty, boat builders and interesting characters. This encompasses several decades and generations within this interesting community.

A former resident returns and things get difficult with plenty of secrets to tell and life will never be the same in Walnut Tree Island.

A really good read and due for publication July 3rd 2025.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. The setting is Walnut Tree Island, with its community of bohemian artists, music, creativity, and love.
Told mainly by Mary and her granddaughter Jo, in two timelines, present day and the 1960s. When Oliver returns to the island determined to sell it, everything has to change.
Although the island is imaginary, the author’s vivid descriptions of the meandering coastline, with houseboats moored along the riverside and diverse community bring it alive, making you feel you are there.
Character driven, the plot is built on the past with Jo not believing in her own skills and talent as an artist, and Mary wanting the best for her. Jo is a feisty free spirit, and the reunion with Oliver explores the past and how things went wrong.
The characters are intriguing with complex backgrounds, but the plot didn’t seem strong enough for me and lacked pace.

Set on an imagined island in the Thames, amongst a community of artists, misfits and boat builders this is a beautiful and touching novel which I consumed in one sitting. Spanning several decades and several generations this is story about belonging, community, art but most of all about all the different sorts of love and how this less than perfect world can get in the way of them. Atmospheric, wonderfully well written and an absolute joy to read, shall definitely be picking up anything else by this author. Fabulous!

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is the first Georgina Moore book that I’ve read and I was pleasantly swept away by this character driven, entertaining and engaging story.

The story revolves around an island with history and the community surrounding it. The story follows 3 generations of Star women and how their lives are intertwined with the 3 generations of Greenwood’s who not only own the Island but also have history and hold secrets impacting both the greenwood’s and the Stars.

The book begins in 1964 where the Star and Greenwood families become inextricably linked through time on Thames Walnut Island and then runs in dual timelines bringing the past and present together.

The past focuses on Mary Star and George Greenwood and the present focuses on Jo Star (Mary’s Granddaughter) and Oliver Greenwood (George’s Grandson). Jo and Oliver spend a summer together long ago and fell in love, but then Oliver l ft the island without saying goodbye, and only to return decades later to find Jo still living on the island and harbouring hate (and love) for Oliver all these years later.

Through Mary’s past and the Islands history, Oliver and Jo begin to reconnect but not without its own trials. The rich characters and the history of the Island bring book to light. It’s emotional, heart warming and brings community spirit.

River of Stars is a beautifully atmospheric and emotionally rich book that draws you into the world of Walnut Tree Island, a fictional sanctuary nestled in the Thames. This is a story that balances intimacy and intrigue, blending complex relationships with a strong sense of place to create a reading experience that feels both immersive and quietly moving.

Georgina Moore has a remarkable talent for crafting settings that feel like characters in their own right. Just as she did in The Garnett Girls, she conjures a world that is easy to sink into. Walnut Tree Island is dreamy and bohemian, filled with artists, dreamers and misfits, where the pace of life is slow and communal. The islanders gather for wine on houseboats and share their lives in ways that are both endearing and fragile.

When a long-absent former resident returns as the new landlord, the close-knit island is disrupted, and old wounds are stirred. For Jo, a reclusive artist, his return forces her to confront a love she believed was long buried. The emotional weight of their shared past unfolds with subtlety and grace, revealing how time changes people, and how some scars never quite heal.

One of the great strengths of this book is how it explores the many forms of family—found, fractured and chosen. Georgina Moore writes relationships with a deft hand, capturing the messiness, warmth and heartbreak of human connection. Her characters feel fully realised, and even those who flit briefly into the story leave an impact.

The prose is elegant and evocative, with moments of quiet beauty that linger. There is a contemplative quality to the storytelling, yet it never drags. Instead, it pulls you along gently, much like the river itself.

River of Stars is a gorgeous, character-driven book filled with secrets, second chances and emotional honesty. It is a story about coming home in more ways than one, about how we rebuild after loss, and about the enduring power of community. I finished it with a deep sense of satisfaction and a yearning to drift away on a houseboat of my own.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Sadly I was disappointed by this new novel from Moore. Maybe because I loved the garnett girls so much this couldn't live up to it? I just felt no interest in the characters - they seemed like a spoiled bunch and were only interested in their tiny privileged existence. I'm sorry!

Having been intriguing by the description for this Georgina Moore book, a previously unknown author for me, I was excited to be approved for ARC thanks to NetGalley. I am so glad I had the opportunity and wish Georgina well once this book comes to publication as it was a very accomplished compelling read filled with love, hope and compassion.
A community living in houseboats on the Thames Walnut Island finds 3 generations of the Stars family, Mary , Ruby and Jo. Their lives are heading to uncertain times in present day when Oliver Greenwood takes ownership of the island upon the death of his Father
Mary Star had dreams of becoming a singer found herself pregnant at 16 but her boyfriend leaves her alone fortunately George Greenwood steps in and fate interjects. Fast forward to present day Oliver Greenwood being the owner and watch the story reveal itself.
A truly beautiful story which I devoured in a short space of time unable to walk away from it this it fast became a memorable read which I feel will stick with me for sometime.

This book was a treasure trove of emotion, raw energy, love lost, hope gone, trying to be someone else, and how things were in the past.

It was beautiful. Incredibly well crafted. Just enough emotion, hope, drama, missed opportunities to keep you interested and excited to read more.

I loved this tale based on a magical island so near to where I live.

I got totally lost in this book and only put it down when I had to. It started strong and finished stronger. I would love to read more by this author.

Oh wow what a book! i’ve just finished River of Stars and I’m full of emotions , this book really touched me and made me appreciate my childhood and the love that was shown to me by my family.

The story begins in the 60s where the Star and Greenwood family are linked through time on Thames Walnut Island . Mary Star is just 16, full of dreams and hopes of becoming a famous singer at the local Treeland venue, when fate interjects and she finds herself in love and expecting a baby. Her boyfriend is also an aspiring singer and leaves Mary behind to fulfil his dream. The owner of Treeland , George Greenwood steps in, looking after heart broken, Mary and her newborn daughter.

In the present day, Mary is now a grandmother to Jo. She has brought her up on the island which is now under threat from Oliver Greenwood, George’s grandson who has inherited it but is unsure of its future. Jo and Oliver were first loves but circumstances have gotten in the way of their chance of happiness. Can they find their way back to happiness or has too many things ruined that happening?

This book felt so personal to me , my own grandmother (also called Mary) brought up my two cousins, having lost both their parents. Along with my own parents we lived together, and the unselfish love myself , my sister and cousins had was something we took for granted at the time but now feels such a blessing. Feeling loved and protected as a child is so paramount in your life, those who do not have it have many more obstacles to overcome.

This story revolves around family and community. How our past defines our future and how staying true to ourselves, and having the courage to change and not bury our feelings is so important. I can’t recommend this book enough . It’s wonderful characters, beautiful setting and exploration of relationships and families resounded with me. Finishing it with a huge lump in my throat, I loved getting to know the Greenwood and Star families and how their density will evolve and continue for years to come.

4* River of Stars by Georgina Moore is a fantastic book about bonds, community and family.

Jo and her grandmother Mary live on Walnut Tree Island, a small community close to London. Immortalised by the bands that played at the local hotel in the 1960s, the residents live a idealistic life save for the ongoing concern that the family that own the island will return to claim their stake. When a former resident returns, it upends the lives of almost everyone and secrets start to spill out.

This is Georgina Moore’s second novel, after the utterly superb Garnett Girls. She again shows an incredible touch for building characters, family and community into a cohesive whole that the reader really care about. Each of the protagonists brings something to the story and the plot is wrought with intrigue, making this a real page turner.

I initially wasn’t sure about the island community which, even if fairly true to life, had a feel of Enid Blyton meets Woodstock. But once I was in, I was in - the island becoming a central character on its own. I hugely enjoyed this book, reading it across 2 days!

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for an ARC

A brilliant story, dual timeline set in the 1960's. I enjoyed this one immensely. The story just flowed along and before I knew it I'd finished it. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is the first Georgina Moore book that I’ve read and I was swept away by this entertaining and engaging story.

The story begins in 1964 where the Star and Greenwood families become inextricably linked through time on Thames Walnut Island.
Mary Star is 16 and enjoying the hedonistic culture of the 60’s to the max, mixing with her friends and the bands that come to play at the famous island venue, Treeland. George Greenwood, hotelier and owner of Treeland, becomes a father figure to Mary and takes her under his wing when she needs it most.

Fast forward to the present day and we meet Mary again, now an elderly woman, still living on the island, alongside her strong willed and fiercely independent granddaughter, Jo Star. Jo was brought up by Mary on the island and is working tirelessly to preserve their way of life there when this is under serious threat.

Other notable characters in the book are handsome business man, Oliver Greenwood, grandson of George. He comes back to the island years after leaving with ideas that could be deemed as extremely controversial.
Dave is a life long island resident and has recently brought his new theatre PR wife Sophie to live there but maybe she prefers the bright lights of the West End to sedate island life?

This is a story about community, betrayal, love and loss and how mistakes made in previous generations can and do reverberate through time.

I really enjoyed reading this seductive book where the island is the focal
point. The author’s gorgeous descriptions of the island and obvious knowledge of river life, and its flora and fauna, sings on every page.

Thank you to @hqstories for sending me this digital copy to review.

Absolutely loved it! Sort of reminded me of 'Daisy Jones and the Six' a little...

An island with a history. Three generations of Star women and how their lives are intertwined with the Greenwood men. A story of family, relationships and loss. But it is also a story about getting to know yourself, to go after what you want and ultimately: hope.

Interesting characters and an engaging plot.

Looking forward to the Waterstones event with Georgina Moore and Fran Littlrwood at the end of April too.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

River of Stars is a beautifully written love story that captivates you from the outset and pulls you into the lives and the dramas of a group of people who live in an island community. The plot interweaves the lives of three strong women from the same family and examines how the past informs their lives and impacts on their relationships . Jo the youngest of these women is at the heart of the story and you find yourself frustrated by her and sympathetic to her in equal parts . It is clear she has history with Oliver who arrives as a threat to the idyllic lifestyles of the Islanders and their relationship is explored brilliantly through a seies of present day and historical events and through their interactions with friends and family.
The characters in the book are so well developed and the scenes so vividly described you are pulled from the heady world of rock music in the 60s to the modern day chaos of the London social scene to a thriving riverside community with ease .
This is a story you can truly lose yourself in and allow you just for a short time to become part of a truly magical Island home. A thoroughly enjoyable read I fully recommend.

I was looking forward to reading this, I love books set around the 1960s and 1970s music scene, and was expecting a treat.
I was sorely disappointed, the early days of the island were skimmed over, and only used as a backdrop to the present day story.
I wanted Ruby’s story. Ossie’s story. George’s story. Even Mary’s story which was again glossed over.
What I got was Jo, with a sad start to life, has a bad affair in Florence, and was then stuck in a vacuum for around 20 years, not doing what she loved. And of course Oliver, her lost love. Her friend Sophie was another more interesting character.
I guessed the outcome very quickly and only read on in the hope of characters being developed, which didn’t happen.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the opportunity to read this book.

River of Stars by Georgina Moore

Three generations of Star women - Mary, Ruby and Jo - have lived on Walnut Tree Island, a community of houseboats on the River Thames and home to artists and in the 1960s a wild music scene. But times change and the island is now owned by Oliver Greenwood, following the death of his father. What this means for the island and his one-time love Jo is uncertain.

What a brilliant book, I absolutely loved it! Fantastic stories in all timelines - Mary in the 1960s/present day and Jo in the 2000s/present day - and fantastic characters. Also a wonderful setting - I can't be alone in Googling houseboats and islands on the Thames! I loved the author's previous book and this one is every bit as brilliant - I can't wait to read what she writes next. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this book and the story it told, I personally preferred the author first book to this one but that's just my personal choice I struggle to connect at times with this story

I wish the author all the best with this book
Many thanks to the publisher & netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for this review

Brilliant escapism & beautifully written, transporting you to Walnut Tree island, a unique and intriguing world. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of an island in the Thames, which serves as a character in itself.

The novel delves into the lives and secrets of its eclectic residents, inspired by the legendary Eel Pie Island and its colourful history.

The descriptions evoke a sense of a unique and close-knit community, where artists, dreamers, and lovers reside.

The story explores themes of love, loss, secrets, and the complexities of community. It delves into the impact of the past on the present, and the ways in which old relationships can resurface.

A captivating and immersive read, which draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very end, I loved it!

Incredibly beautiful writing and a slowly unfolding story with a few different strands but mostly centred on the Star family: Mary, Ruby and Jo. The parts describing Mary's early experiences of the island during its era as a famous rock venue were the most enjoyable and the past really came alive. The characters of the tightly-knit island community are well-developed and really draw the reader in.

Spoilers

A very enjoyable book. The sense of community was so heartwarming, and the view of what boat living is like.
I could picture myself so easily falling in with these characters, they were so well written.
I liked the back history of the island, its music scene, and how now, everything is slowly falling apart.
The plot is predictable, but I can't be cross about that, as I don't know I'd have wanted it to end any other way.
Some great characters, I think I'll remember Mary, Jo and Dave (lovely Dave) for a while yet.