River of Stars starts with the story of Mary, a teenage girl with a burgeoning singing talent and a rebellious spirit that draws her to the musicians and life on Walnut Tree Island, a place loosely based on the real Eel Pie Island where 1960s bands gathered to play to youngsters like Mary. The book then switches between Mary's life and that of her granddaughter Jo, an ex-artist, both living on the island.

I really liked Georgina Moore's debut novel The Garnett Girls, so I was looking forward to delving into this, her second novel. However, I was ultimately disappointed with River of Stars. I found it slightly clichéd and predictable with some quite unlikeable protagonists

Jo is, quite frankly, a pain in the arse who despite supposedly having self-worth issues seems to be completely in love with herself and is totally oblivious to anyone apart from her grandmother, Mary. Oliver is not really a rounded character. I think I preferred his wife, Emanuelle, who only appears very briefly in the novel and had more about her in those couple of pages than he did in the entire book.

I found Mary's history more interesting than Jo's story. I also wish we had heard more of Ruby and Golibe. However, I liked Sophie the most. She seemed to have the most interesting character but was only really used a foil for the others. Her own story was cast aside in favour of Jo and Oliver's. Sophie never gets to work out her friendship issues with Jo and is treated badly by everyone else with only a bit of a tagged-on, half-hearted epilogue for her, while everyone else seems to live happily ever after.

Also, everyone seems to be obsessed with the Island. It's like there's nothing else out there, never mind the rest of London or great wide world beyond. It's highly unlikely a community could be so insular and unaware of anything else. Does no one else have jobs outside of the island? How do they all make their money? They all just seem to waft around being artistic and/or annoying and getting drunk. I suppose this is what's known as being "bohemian"?

Sorry, this one was not for me, I'm afraid. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

such a sweeping and wonderful book to just get right stuck in to. a time spanning and saga type book is always one of my faves. and i go in with such joyous feelings when i know a book is going to be one of them. there is nothing quite like book, eh. and this one was one of those books and every moments was like those sagas we love so much. i couldnt wait to keep reading and couldnt wait to feel as i new i would all the way through is i got to know the people and the story.
this book gives us the Walnut Tree Island. its set in the 1960s with our character Mary who is taken under the wing by someone right at the point she needed to be. here she lives on in place full of community and shared purpose and care. in the present day she is now an older woman and is joined on the island by her grand daughter Jo. She has bought Jo up and they have called this place, these people their home for a long time now. but all that comes under threat when Georges own grandson comes strolling on in with a set to ruining everything for them all. the whole community is at fear of their lives changing for the worst. the lives they've all come to need,belong in and cherish. there is so much more to come from this group of characters. and what we learn, see and imagine from the writing is just a wonderfully immersive and escapist read. it was just so good. so so good. i loved how we get so many aspects of life and how time and families change but also some things never do. this is not a life i know much of but its one i could truly feel coming off the pages and enjoyed doing so.

River of Stars is a wonderful book that not only shows life stories through different generations, but also shows how wonderful a relationship can be between a grandmother and a granddaughter.

The story weaves beautifully between the different generations, and leaves you rooting for love to be the winner. There are however lots of tricky paths that have to be crossed, along with sad and emotional issues that Georgina addresses.

I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it. I look forward to Georgina’s next book!

Jo Star's heart was broken over twenty years ago when her first true love, Oliver, disappeared from Walnut Tree Island. His sudden return not only stirs up old memories but also brings unrest to the residents of the island as he is determined to sell the land.

River Of Stars by Georgina Moore really surprised me when I started reading it. The beautifully dreamy cover and the accompanying blurb had me picturing something set in the American South. As I read I discovered that the fictional Walnut Tree Island is based on Eel Pie Island in the Thames. The author's description of the island is wonderful, it comes across as idyllic, almost otherworldly - not in a supernatural way but just a different way of life, verging on magical.

The story is told through a dual timeline, alongside Jo's story we also learn of her grandmother, Mary, the first of the Star women to live on the island. We meet Mary as a teenager in 1964 who is entranced by the music scene on Walnut Tree Island, falls in love with a musician on the cusp of fame and is then abandoned. Finding herself pregnant and disowned by her own family, George Greenwood, the owner of the island, takes pity on her and gives her a place to live. The story regularly revisits Mary as she raises her daughter and granddaughter on the island. I was fascinated by Mary's story, from the hedonistic days of the 1960s through to the current day and her role as matriarch of the community who call Walnut Tree Island home.

Jo's story begins in a similar way, discovering young love on the island with Oliver Greenwood, grandson of George. Unfortunately, Oliver's father is domineering and wants nothing to do with the island, forcing the young lovers apart and controlling the rest of Oliver's life. Despite Jo's tragic backstory and heartbreak I really couldn't warm to her, I found her demanding, stubborn, jealous and petulant, to the point where I was more invested in Mary's story than Jo's.

Alongside the Star women are a host of supporting characters who add depth to the novel and the descriptions of life on the island are riveting and seductive. The community atmosphere is the sort of thing that people dream of finding.

The conclusion isn't a surprise, although there is a mixture of joy and sadness for various residents.

River of Stars is a multi-generational story about people living on an island in the Thames. The 60' s story about Mary appealed to me as that is my generation but we didn't hear too much about that. The novel concentrated on Jo, Mary's granddaughter whom I couldn't take to at all. I thought the storyline was predictable and I guessed the end early on. This was my first Georgina Moore book but I'm afraid I'm not tempted to read more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

River of Stars is a multi generational saga that ranges from the life choices made by 16 year old Mary Star in the mid 1960s to the lifestyle that her beloved granddaughter Jo has chosen for herself in these more contemporary times. It takes a close look at family dynamics as well as the relationships between key community members living on Walnut Tree Island, an atmospheric setting which is used well in the story.

Jo and Oliver, who grew up together, once had a love that could not be contained - not by family loyalties or the opinions of others. Yet in the end, it was not to be. Now, Oliver has returned the island after many years, but his plans are not going to go down too well with some of the islanders...

Featuring a cast of relatable and interesting characters, this is a romantic novel (in so many ways) that many readers will absolutely love. It gets 3.5 stars.

I loved this book. I am not a fan of dual timeline books but in this case it completely enhanced the story. Set on a Thames island it tells the story from the 1960s through to present day . This was a multi generational story of family, community , music and the arts. The characters are beautifully written and come alive to the reader and you become hooked on the story and don’t want it to end .
Highly recommended and five star plus from me
Thank you to Netgalley, Georgina Moore and HQ books for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

River of Stars is the second novel I’ve read by Georgina Moore, and I was instantly swept away by this evocative, multi-generational story set against the unique and richly atmospheric backdrop of Walnut Tree Island.

This is a story steeped in nostalgia, secrets, and the enduring power of community, woven together with Moore’s beautiful prose and finely observed character dynamics.

The story opens in 1964, where the free-spirited Mary Star, just sixteen, is revelling in the hedonistic culture of the 60s.

She’s surrounded by friends, live music, and the vibrant energy of Treeland - the island’s iconic hotel and music venue, owned by George Greenwood.

When Mary finds herself in need, George becomes a surprising but steady father figure, offering shelter and stability in a pivotal moment of her life.

Fast-forward to the present day, and Mary is still on the island, now a strong and spirited elderly woman, living with her equally independent granddaughter, Jo Star.

Jo was raised on Walnut Tree Island and is fiercely determined to preserve its close-knit community and distinctive way of life which is now under threat from external forces and long-buried family tensions.

Moore crafts a compelling cast of characters, from the charming but disruptive Oliver Greenwood (George’s grandson), who returns to the island with plans that threaten to change everything, to Dave, a lifelong resident, and his theatre PR wife Sophie, who is struggling to adjust to island life after the buzz of the West End.

At its heart, River of Stars is a novel about legacy; how the choices of one generation echo across the next. It’s about love, betrayal, belonging, and the ties that both bind and break us.

The sense of place is masterful; the island itself feels like a character, alive with history, wildlife, and weather. Moore’s affection for river life and her lyrical descriptions of its rhythms and beauty shine through on every page.

Though I wasn’t sure initially whether the island’s idealism would ring true, any reservations quickly faded as I became immersed in its charm and complexity.

Following the success of The Garnett Girls, Georgina Moore continues to impress with her ability to portray rich emotional landscapes and layered relationships. River of Stars is a gripping, heartfelt and ultimately uplifting novel that lingers long after the final page.

A beautifully told, character-driven story full of warmth, intrigue and heart.

Thank you to HQ Stories and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

River of Stars is a warm, atmospheric, moving story of family and love.

It took me a second to sink into the story, but once I was in, I was completely enchanted by the island and its inhabitants.

On Walnut Island, a small island just off the Thames, lives a tight-knit community. River of Stars is a multigenerational story of family; we meet Mary, the matriarch, with her charming stories of the island’s musical past. Mary has a daughter at a young age; Ruby - a free spirited character with aspirations of stardom, and then Ruby’s daughter Jo, a former artist who seems completely lost. When the island’s future is called into question and a face from the past comes to visit, everything Jo and her family have ever known and loved about the island is called into question.

The story is so heartwarming, the relationships feel realistic and the flashbacks to the island’s past evokes nostalgia.

River of Stars is a lovely summer read that will completely transport you; by the end you’ll be wanting to run away to an island to live on a houseboat under the stars ✨

An atmospheric and emotional story about people on a Thames island. Their lives, secrets, and hopes, continue through the generations. The book has a bittersweet storyline and so much optimism.

I loved this story ! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
The story features a small community of people who live on houseboats on a fictional island called Walnut Island on the Thames – It features 3 generations of Women from one family who have always lived here however their inheritance is compromised when Oliver Greenwood takes ownership of the island now that his father has passed away – this is a story of lost love, friendships and second chances all on a magical Island . Best read with a glass of wine watching a sunset ! I now want to abandon my family and live on a houseboat….

What a lovely read. An island in the Thames and it's inhabitants lives.
Fro.m MARY in 1963 up till now. The Island has been owned by the same family since the early 60's now the Grandson has inherited it and rumour are flying that he intends to sell it to a developer.
Mary's granddaughter was once in love with the Grandson as a teenager..
Lots of complications to come.

I was lucky enough to get a proof copy of @georginamooreauthor second novel River of Stars published by @hqstories and thanks to @netgalley. I really enjoyed this, it gave me Daisy Jones vibes and I loved the characters and the back and forth time journey from the sixties through to the present day (key note to mention Tight Fit in the 80s reference - IFKYK) as the characters grow and change along with their relationships both in terms of friendships and partnerships. I just thoroughly enjoyed this - the setting of the boat/island community in London, the characters of Jo and Oliver and of course of the island matriarch Mary. Published next month it’s a perfect summer read.

My first time reading any of this author's books and after a slow start, I was hooked and while I knew it was set in the UK, it could have been anywhere and I had reader envy as I wanted to be there, the author painted a fabulous image of how idyllic island life can be for some and how stifling it was for one character. I would have no hesitation in recommending this beautifully written story to everyone and check out the author's other books.

This was a beautiful book, I read this on a long car journey and it was such an escape from the rainy M6.
The vibe of the island reminded me of festivals and Glastonbury at night. Full of fire and fairylights.
The story of the Greenwoods and Stars are linked through time and a place - Walnut Island. Set over decades, between 1964 and present day it's a beautiful love story of community, betrayal and above all love and music.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and well structured with lovely snippets of the past woven into the narrative of today. At times it was difficult to follow when the chapters jumped between different people or times within the same chapter, but attentive reading solves that.

I loved the characters and the way their stories are written make you feel for them in emotive ways. I found myself rooting for them, feeling sorry for them, and feeling angry for them. There were some parts of the story that I feel looking back felt a little unnecessary, there are lots of themes covered loosely and I feel that fewer themes could have been covered maybe in a little more detail to do them a little more justice.

You’ll fall in love with this little island and the sense of community for how it’s written. A lovely easy read that feels cosy. I would definitely recommend and will definitely look for more books by Georgina Moore in future.

3.5 rounded up

This is a love letter to Eel Pie Island, here it’s the fictional Walnut Tree Island, as well as as to the River Thames, by the best selling author of The Garnett Girls. It’s a lovely story, set in the 1960s through the eyes of teenager Mary Star and in the present day by her granddaughter, Jo. In the 1960s Mary goes to Walnut Tree Island for the music scene at its iconic venue, Treeland, owned and run by George Greenwood. This would change Mary’s life. In the present day, Mary and Jo’s life on the island, in the cottage they have long called home, is seriously under threat when George’s grandson, the devilishly handsome Oliver, wants to sell the island, inevitably impacting its residents and the owners of houseboats. What will the future hold? Many of them are in fear of their previous way of life changing and not necessarily for the better.

The lovely cover really encapsulates the contents and the stunning setting which is absolutely terrific. Walnut Tree Island is a character in its own right and this and the river carries the book in my opinion. I love the strong sense of community on the island especially when their way of life appears to be under threat and of course, there’s the added attraction of the “romance” of living on a houseboat. In addition, from the 1960s, there’s the lure of Treeland and the music scene and art in the later timeline.

Like The Garnett Girls this novel is character driven and is quite the saga spanning several decades. Many of the characters are likeable, especially Mary and Jo and their strong bond is a wonderful element in the book. Some characters however, feel a bit self-centred and are clearly less likable although it’s good to have a mixture because it makes it more real. The dynamics are interesting especially between the Greenwood and Star families, then and now, and this fluctuates and changes throughout the three generations. Their interactions and connections define both the past and the present with plenty of animosity in the present day.

Despite the wonderful setting and some lovely characters, it’s a bit too long for me and gets somewhat convoluted and so it doesn’t grab me in quite the same way as the authors previous book. Having said that, the atmospheric setting is sufficient for me to raise the book to 4 stars and I reckon this is a perfect holiday read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.

*Eel Pie Island is located in the Thames near Twickenham and is known for its Bohemian spirit. In the 1960s, it was indeed a music venue with bands like The Rolling Stones and individuals like Eric Clapton appearing there at the Eel Pie Island Hotel which closed in 1967.

I found this book to be a slow burner - I did eventually become absorbed but it did take a while.

I did enjoy the setting - an island community on the Thames - where live for the inhabitants is slow, communal and intense at times.

Two families dominate - the Stars and the Greenwoods and the story is set in both the 1960s and the present day. Three generations of the families have loved and been in conflict. The last Jo and Oliver need to find their own way separate from the family history.

Both have allowed their pasts to dominate them and now need to decide who they are and what motivates them.

Interesting if a little predictable.

I loved the blurb of this book and it didn’t disappoint. The story stems many generations and the lives of many but concentrates on two of the Star women, Mary and her granddaughter Jo. The story jumps from different points in time, back to the early 1960’s and Mary’s life which took her to Walnut Tree Island and the thriving music scene with up and coming musicians through to Jo’s teenage years and meeting her first love on the island.

It is a lovely story although there are several heart wrenching moments. The author manages to marry all the stories and timelines into a coherent and enjoyable, if slightly predictable, novel.

A thoroughly enjoyable book. I previously read the Garnett Girls by this author, which I loved. So I was happy to see she had written another book.

This one is just as good, maybe even slightly better than her first one.

Some of the characters are quite unlikeable, but that totally adds to the story. I felt there are so many openings in this book for it to go on and be a series of books. I would love to read more from some of their other perspectives. Especially Sophie as I did actually feel a bit sorry for her. She clearly had some issues. Also it would be good to read about Ruby too.

Jo and Oliver had a lovely woven tale that started decades before. As for Mary - what a lovely person she was.

I loved the idea of them all living in houseboats, as does the author. I'm sure it's not the same as that now!

Thank you very much for allowing me to read this book.