BLOG TOUR: See the Stars - Eleanor Ray

Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?

When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.

Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?

Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel reminds us all that we need the darkness if we want to see the stars.

 

What did I think?

If you haven't read any of Eleanor Ray's books yet then you are missing a real treat.  I loved Everything is Beautiful and adored The Art of Belonging so I couldn't wait to read her third novel, See the Stars and it is simply breathtaking.  Eleanor Ray will be seeing a lot of stars as the reviews start rolling in.

I loved Alice from the start, although her place in my affections was seriously challenged by young Berti who she befriends at the library.  Alice returns to her childhood home in Yorkshire to convalesce after a heart episode.  Yorkshire holds so many memories for her, both good and bad, and Alice has regrets about the last words she spoke to her Grandad before he died.

It was Alice's Grandad who taught her about the night sky and he kept detailed notes about his search for an undiscovered comet.  Along with Berti, Alice is determined to continue her Grandad's search and she must revisit some parts of her past she would rather keep buried.

There is so much I could say about this book but you really must discover it for yourself and I don't want to spoil it.  The writing is sublime and the plot is both engaging and surprising, making it difficult to put down and I read it faster than I expected.  I definitely want to read it again as I'm already missing the characters and if I had the time, I would have turned back to the first page as soon as I had read the final word.

Incredibly poignant and wonderfully uplifting, See the Stars is a beautiful book and worth so much more than five stars; if I could award more stars, I would.  

I chose to read a digital ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://geni.us/SeetheStars

About the author

Eleanor Ray is the author of the highly acclaimed novels Everything is Beautiful and The Art of Belonging. She has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University and had a career in financial marketing before turning to writing. She lives in London with her husband and three young children.

See the Stars, her new novel, is about reclaiming our dreams and was inspired by her own career change. Her son’s passion for space fuelled her research, and together they visited science museums, planetariums and observatories around the world. She is currently writing her next novel.

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BLOG TOUR: The Art of Belonging - Eleanor Ray

Sometimes you need to open your heart to find where you truly belong . . .

When unexpected circumstances bring Grace's estranged daughter, Amelia, and granddaughter, Charlotte, to live in her home, complicated feelings start to emerge, revealing a messy and emotional past which drove this family apart.

It will take a school mystery, an exquisite miniature railway and some brave decisions to help them each find not only themselves, but also each other - and to appreciate what it truly means to belong together.

This uplifting novel will warm your heart and touch your soul, and remind you of all the reasons humans can be downright wonderful.

 

What did I think?

Having loved Eleanor Ray's debut novel, Everything is Beautiful, I couldn't wait to read her next novel and I absolutely adored it.  The Art of Belonging is everything I hoped it would be and more: beautiful, uplifting and filled with love.

Eleanor Ray has created three amazingly strong female characters that I immediately fell in love with.  Grace is starting to feel her age but she can manage very well on her own, thank you very much.  Grace's daughter Amelia knew her life wasn't perfect but she didn't expect to be moving back in with mum at this stage of her life.  Amelia's daughter Charlotte is delighted to be spending more time with her grandmother, even if it means she doesn't get to see her dad very much.  This is the story of their lives and I absolutely loved it.

I adored every single character in this gorgeous novel; the three main characters drive the story forwards but they are supported by a colourful and unforgettable cast of characters.  The writing is flawless and perfectly paced to allow the reader to savour every delicious word.

The Art of Belonging is a stunning novel that made me experience so many different emotions whilst reading it but it left me feeling incredibly uplifted and joyful.  An easy five stars from me and one I can't recommend highly enough.

I received an ARC to read and review for the Instagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Everything is Beautiful - Eleanor Ray

When Amy Ashton's world fell apart eleven years ago, she started a collection.

Just a few keepsakes of happier times: some honeysuckle to remind herself of the boy she loved, a chipped china bird, an old terracotta pot . . . Things that others might throw away, but to Amy, represent a life that could have been.

Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery, and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel. If she can find the courage to face her past, might the future she thought she'd lost still be hers for the taking?

Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant and The Keeper of Lost Things, this exquisitely told, uplifting novel shows us that however hopeless things might feel, beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places 

What did I think?

I see a lot of books claiming a comparison to Eleanor Oliphant, which I absolutely loved and found to be completely unique, however, I think the comparison does apply to Everything is Beautiful as Eleanor Ray's debut novel is similarly quirky with a surprisingly dark undertone.  So yes indeed, Eleanor Oliphant fans, you will love this book!  I planned to read it over 3 days but it barely lasted 24 hours as I couldn't put it down.

Amy Ashton reminded me of Bagpuss, collecting treasures that others have cast away and fixing them with super glue just like the marvellous mice on the mouse organ.  Amy hasn't always been a hoarder, it's just since her boyfriend and best friend went missing...at the same time.  The police believe that all the evidence points to Tim and Chantel running off together but neither of them have been heard from since.  All Amy wants is closure but in the meantime she has empty wine bottles and lighters, among other things, to remind her of happier times.

This book is so beautifully written it left me surrounded with a lovely warm glow.  There are some devastating moments and I could barely hold back the tears at times as Amy's history is revealed.  You just never know how much pain people are carrying around with them and if collecting things makes Amy's life more bearable then I don't see what harm it is doing to anyone.  I think it's lovely how you can find a seemingly innocuous object and suddenly be transported back in time.  We all carry treasured memories around with us but sometimes they need a little nudge to bring them to the fore.

Utterly charming and completely compelling, Everything is Beautiful is an absolute delight to read and an outstanding debut.  This uplifting, hopeful and quirky book reminded me that there really is beauty in everything if you choose to look for it - I loved it.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

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