See The Stars is a gentle, introspective novel with beautiful prose and emotionally rich characters, but the slow pacing and underdeveloped subplots made it feel uneven at times. A quiet, reflective read best suited for fans of literary fiction who enjoy character-driven stories. was a warm, thoughtful read

A warm story and just what I needed at this time. Along with the protagonist, I found myself compelled to step back and think about the things that actually matter in life.

I’ve written this review for book sales and recommendation site LoveReading. Please see the link for the full review, this title has been chosen as a LoveReading Star Book.

Started off ok, but it was just a bit boring and predictable. Alice, the protagonist, was really annoying and I found myself not caring what happened to her.

See the Stars was a moving read but didn’t always hold my interest. It’s the story of Alice, who after experiencing burn out returns to her Yorkshire home to heal.
The novel moves between past and present and the author excels at characterisation as the reader sees Alice build new relationships and reflect on others.
I didn’t particularly warm to Alice however and I think this is partly due to the author’s style of writing which for me didn’t flow well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I thought that this was an amazing book!

The focus on burnout felt really familiar to me and to see a character with a settled and seemingly perfect life struggle with something so familiar was really comforting. In realising that her life is no longer fulfilling her in the way she is living it, this book showed me that it’s ok to change your mind.

The dual timeline aspect of this book with one in present day and the other with Alice’s younger years was a clever choice in my opinion. It allowed Ray to really develop her character and made her three dimensional.

This was a lovely, heartwarming experience for me to read whilst still dealing with the tough stuff. I found the writing and plot to be strong and easy to follow.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this novel! I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much to the author and to Netgalley.

A bit soppy but not a standard storyline and lovely to read. I liked the unusual characters and I got quite hooked on it. I found myself reading for longer and longer as time went on. I recommend this for a summer or feel good read. Thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus for the advance copy.

3.8 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming!

Alice Thorington collapses on a street and is forced to accept that burnout hasn’t fulfilled her dreams. The flat, her job, and her steady relationship aren’t making her happy. She returns home to Yorkshire and rediscovers her love for stargazing, even if the family dynamics are complicated. Alice also meets Matt, her teenage crush brother’s best friend, with issues of his own. Then, there’s Berti, a boy who would rather count the stars than talk to people.
Can Alice find a way to sort her present with their help?
The story comes in Alice’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is the second book I read in the same month dealing with burnout in a 30-something career woman. The rest of the plots are vastly different, and both books have handled it well.
The main reason I got the book was because of the stars. If my plans had gone the way I wanted them to, I would have been an astrophysicist. I love space and all things up there in the vast, wide universe. The book does justice to the topic without making it sound like a science show.
The narrative shifts between the past and present. The past comes in installments with the year clearly marked. Though it may seem like you have to calculate the age, there’s no need to do it every time. Once is enough. You can track it from there.
This is a book where almost every character is flawed. They are not evil or villainous. They are just people with flaws, and those who thought it was the right thing at that time. I like that the fiancé is not made to be a bad guy. No need to demean him unnecessarily, right?
The characters are not that deep, but they aren’t shallow either. While we could have gotten more information (especially about Matt), the story works fine with what we know.
It is not romance. It is purely women’s fiction with just a bit of ‘love’ that doesn’t dominate the central plot, not even at the end.
The book also touches on academia and politics, etc., in it, especially when you are a woman in STEM. I’m sure you can guess what I’m implying!
Bertie, the 13 yo, is my favorite. The kid is on the spectrum and super smart (but no social cues), which makes him a refreshingly honest buddy as those around him try to be polite and say the right things.

To summarize, See the Stars is a heartwarming and introspective read about life, relationships, passion, and doing what makes one happy (while also bringing an income).
Thank you, NetGalley and Piatkus, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

3.5 Stars

A heart-warming and heart-felt novel which whilst an easy read was delightfully enjoyable. Great characters (past and present), and interesting and emotive plot, and tons of fascinating astronomical facts. This isn't an author I've read before but I'll be checking out more of her books.

Thank you to Net Galley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a free e-ARC of 'See the Stars' by Eleanor Ray.

What a heart-warming book!

'They looked at each other, and she saw the light of the stars reflected in his eyes. She loved these moments: the two of them together while the rest of the world was sleeping.'

See the Stars follows Alice Thorington, a former scientist who is now working long hours in the city (something to do with finances and stocks, not my bag haha). Alice has a health scare and ends up needing to take time off work, staying with her mum at her childhood home in Yorkshire. She has to adjust to slowing down, come to terms with a few different ghosts from her past, and consider what she actually wants out of her life. The story follows two time periods - the current day and then flashes back to Alice's past.

I loved every minute of this story. The exploration of the relationships between characters is top-tier- the flashbacks to Alice's relationship with her grandad particularly tugged my heart strings.

I really enjoyed seeing Alice's growth throughout - especially after shouting at the book for her to do or realise certain things!

Overall, solid 4 stars - I will definitely revisit this book :)

This was a gorgeous book. Easy to read but that does not mean it was dumbed down. It was intelligent and interesting. I learnt a lot about the stars a subject I knew nothing about. I loved the characters especially the gentle intelligent way Berti and Zelda were treated. I was delighted when Alice made the decisions she did and found I was rooting for her throughout the book. This was my first Eleanor Ray book but it won't be my last. Definitely an author to watch.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

this was such a touching book and one i couldn't put down. it was a story that connected to me and bought me into it right away. the book is so touching for both mind and soul. we get to know our character Alice from both the present and her past leading up to now. so we truly feel like we get to know her. and i also loved getting to know other characters particularly her Grandad and these moments were my fave. it bought the story together with also featuring her love of space and looking through her Grandpas telescope as a child. the book isn't without its more sad or difficult topics but as usual Eleanor handles with exactly what they need.
Alice knows she needs to make a change. how she knows this? well collapsing might be the first clue. so Alice decides to make that change, face that life isn't making her happy and leaves for home. for Yorkshire. she taken on a journey of truly reflecting on her life, what she wants, and what she needs. what truly could make her happy? being home and having time to heal and be at peace help Alice take stock, take time, take space.
there is so many points of connection with this book both in theme and characters and i loved it so much. made me want to give it a little hug to chest at times. and i liked the uses of metaphorical and literal plot points which i actually got( i dont usually seem clever enough to do so it made me happy to do so in this one!)
Bertie is also a standout character for me but i want you to get to meet and see him all on your own to get the true sparkle from that part of the book as i did.
we could all learn from this book. we cold all heal a bit with it. and if not we could all just enjoy a wonderful story. and i certainly think i did all three.

A beautiful book. Extremely well written with great characters. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended.

Set across two timelines. Alice has a gorgeous fiancé, a flat in London, a job in finance - the full package.. until she burns out and is signed off work to recover.

Growing up with a single mother, Alice is really close to her Grandad who shares with her his love of astronomy.

Can present day Alice recapture her passion for the stars and readjust to a slower pace of life?

The epitome of heartwarming, this book is packed with characters you really want to cheer for.
A lovely read, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review! Thank you to Eleanor Ray for writing such a lovely book!

Love the story of Alice. The story is told in two timelines: current one and Alice’s time in the university.

It is well written, characters are well developed. It is a bit predictable however highly enjoyable read.

Alice is relatable and likeable, she is flawed but her heart is in the right place. It is a nice story of Alice’s journey from her childhood and spending time looking at the night sky with her Grandpa through University and its challenges to her work life and her medical scare which turns her life 180 degrees.

It is well written book which grabbed my attention from the start.

I love Eleanor's books so much and this one sounded so wonderful. They're all heartfelt and soulful and magical and joyous.

This had me hooked from the very start and didn't let up until the end.

It is mostly set out in the present time, but every other chapter or so is set in Alice's childhood and student years, which gives us a real depth of character. She was such a wonderful character. I also loved her Grandfather, seen in the "past" chapters. I lost my grandparents many years ago, and so I love it when I read about grandparents because they're so warm and comforting. I didn't like Alice's partner Hugo, I found him very self-centered.

My standout character though has to be Bertie. He is a teenager that Alice meets when she's staying at her Mum's house. He is so amazing and really shone on the page, even when in scenes with the main adults, he still stole the show.

I loved the focus on space. I am fascinated by space and planets and whatnot, but I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. So I loved hat Alice's interest started as a child with her grandfather, with a homemade telescope in his shed. It made it more relateable.

It is a relatively short book and quick to read but it still manages to give us that depth of emotion and story I've come to expect.

It is such an uplifting story. Yes it has some difficult topics - dementia, ageing, illness, mental illness, disability, neurodiversity - but overall it is just such an upbeat, joyful story.

I have a copy of Eleanor's book The Art of Belonging still to read, but whenever I read her work, it's just...it's perfect and she is just cementing her position as one of my go-to authors.

See the Stars is one of those quiet, beautiful books that sneaks up on your heart. I didn’t expect to feel quite so moved by it, but by the end, I was completely wrapped up in its gentle, hopeful magic. Eleanor Ray writes with such tenderness and care, and the emotional core of this story really stayed with me.

This is a story about grief, healing, and connection, but it never feels heavy. Instead, it feels honest. There’s a softness to the way Ray writes about loneliness and second chances, and I found myself rooting so hard for the characters, even when they were at their most uncertain. The relationships felt real, complicated, and quietly powerful.

The astronomy thread woven throughout added something really special. It made everything feel a little bigger and more meaningful, like a reminder that even when we feel small or lost, we’re still part of something vast and full of wonder. That balance between the everyday and the cosmic was handled so delicately, and it just worked.

If you love character-driven stories with heart, a little bit of starlight, and a lot of quiet hope, I think this one will speak to you. It’s tender and thoughtful and just really lovely.

"Just because it isn't simple doesn't mean it's not worth doing."

Wow this book was beautiful! I really enjoyed the writing style, I found the story flowed really nicely and it gripped me from the beginning.

All of the characters were so loveable, but my ultimate favourite character was Berti. Although it's not explicitly named in the book, it is clear the character suffers with autism and I just felt the book portrayed him so well.
As a teacher, I've worked closely with children with autism and the author's descriptions of the character's mannerisms and the very 'matter of fact' responses were brilliantly written.

There were so many lovely quotes linked to Berti's character and I just have to share a few of them.
1) "some kids need extra help with reading, some with maths, but what he needs is a bit of support in how to interact with people".
2) "...now things are different. I've been told to make little adjustments to our world instead of making Berti fit ours.".
3) "With people like Berti. Medical professionals. They'd try to force them to be more like everyone else. It must have led to so much unhappiness - trying to be 'normal' and failing."

I thought the storyline of the Grandad, although heart breaking, was written beautifully. I love that his story helped Alice work out what the most important things are in life. I think we sometimes forget how short life really is.

Also as a side note, I actually learnt a lot of science from this book. I feel embarrassed that I had no idea that comets and meteors were different things!

Overall, this was a great book and I would definitely recommend.

See the Stars is a heartwarming story that explores love, grief, and the quiet strength finding yourself. I especially enjoyed the emotional depth in Alice’s relationship with her grandfather, whose presence and influence linger powerfully throughout the novel. The friendship between Alice and Bertie was another highlight—genuine, sweet, and filled with hope. Ray’s writing is compassionate and warm, making this a very readable and uplifting experience overall.

While the novel was emotionally engaging, I found the story arcs somewhat predictable, particularly when it came to the antagonists,, They felt a little flat. The romantic threads also felt underdeveloped for me—I would have liked to see the love interests play a more central or dynamic role in Alice’s journey. The story was very readable, with a comforting, almost cozy rhythm.

This is a solid, feel-good read for fans of character-driven fiction with emotional heart and a hint of bittersweet nostalgia. It will likely leave you with a warm feeling and a quiet sense of hope—perfect for readers looking for something reflective and reassuring.

See the Stars is a thoughtful and quietly powerful novel that stands apart from more conventional reads, offering a contemplative journey through grief, identity, and healing. Set partly in Edinburgh and largely in the calming landscape of Yorkshire, it creates a vivid backdrop for a story that balances emotional depth with gentle optimism.

The novel centres on Alice, a successful woman whose life is suddenly upended by a mini-stroke. As she steps away from her high-pressure job in the City, she returns to her childhood home to recover physically and emotionally. What unfolds is a dual-timeline narrative, shifting between Alice’s present and formative years, gradually revealing the key relationships and events that have shaped her.

Eleanor Ray skillfully explores Alice’s long-standing fascination with astronomy, her difficult bond with a distant mother, and the emotional scars left by both. As Alice reconnects with Matt, a friend from her past grappling with his own trauma, and forms an unexpected friendship with Berti, a bright but troubled teenager, the story gains warmth and dimension.

Their shared project to locate a long-lost comet once discovered by Alice’s grandfather serves as both a plot thread and a touching metaphor for recovery and rediscovery.

Ray’s writing is sensitive and empathetic, especially in her treatment of burnout, grief, and the pressure many women feel to maintain a façade of strength. The emotional journey Alice undergoes — releasing old pain, rediscovering joy, and redefining what success means — is portrayed with authenticity and subtlety.

With its quiet pacing, emotional resonance, and moments of real beauty, See the Stars is a moving reflection on the things that truly matter. It’s a novel that encourages readers to pause, to reflect, and to find comfort in connection — whether with others or within ourselves.

With thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.