I enjoyed the unlikely friendship between Urs and Jo, and the unfolding of both their backgrounds. also like the overall message of redemption and the power of connection.
However, some of the resolutions came too easy and certain elements of Gabe's story did not ring true for me.

Joanna Teale has had a rough couple of years, she lost her mum Eleanor to breast cancer and discovered she inherited the deadly gene. Joanna’s cancer was caught early, she had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and her ovaries removed. She’s started working in Southern Illinois, researching nesting birds, and wants to finish her PHD in bird ecology and conservation.

Joanna hasn’t had a lot of experience with children, when a young girl arrives at her cabin and she’s extremely concerned. The little girl looks to be around eight or nine, she’s dirty, covered in bruises and doesn’t have any shoes. When Joanna asks her questions, she gives her answers that make no sense and when Jo calls the police she runs away.

Ursa claims she has been sent from the stars to earth, in another girl’s body and she’s here to preform five miracles? Ursa seems very intelligent, and Jo agrees to let her stay for now and looks on the internet for any missing children. Her neighbor Gabriel Nash, lives next door and knows most people in the area, and Jo asks him if he knows anything about a girl being missing or any local families with a history of domestic violence? Jo discovers Ursa reading some of her Ornithologist books, she can follow Shakespeare, remembers all the characters names and Jo thinks she's gifted. Ursa love’s animals, she informs them she’s getting closer to finding her fifth miracle and still runs off when she feels anxious. Jo and Gabe feel a connection to each other, they’re extremely protective of Ursa and they would do anything to keep her safe, and they discover her tragic and shocking past.

I received a copy of Where the Forest Meets the Stars from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, it’s not a book I would typically read, however I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can now understand why so many people have highly recommended Glendy Vanderah’s debut novel to me, I can’t wait to read The Light Through the Leaves and five stars from me.

Joanna has had a rough few years. Her mother died of breast cancer as Jo herself was fighting the disease. She is in remission and back on track with her PhD program. She is in the middle of her field study when a young girl shows up. She is barefoot and dirty and claims to be an alien. Jo is at a loss for what to do. She called the local cops, and they did nothing. So Jo lets this young girl hang out with her and gets attached to this kid. Together Jo and Ursa become friends with their neighbor, Gabe. He lets Ursa hang out at his farm while Jo is in the field and they create their own little family. But at some point, Jo will have to leave the charming little college and go back to finish school. What will happen to Ursa then? But where did she even come from? And what will happen when they find out the truth?



Where the Forest Meets the Stars was the selection for our book club this month, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a nice, refreshing break from the thrillers that have been consuming my reading time. I liked Jo as a dominant character, even though it took me a while to realize that she was in her early to mid-twenties. I thought she was older than that. There was a moment of incredulity when Jo shaved Gabe's beard. I thought "boundaries!" it was just so over the top. I also think that it was a little irresponsible of the author that they had Gabe's mental illness go untreated. And of course, the entire plot that Ursa thought she was an alien, but that was just heartwarming. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS



Bottom Line - For all of its faults, Where the Forest Meets the Stars was a feel-good read about the bonds created with those who come into our lives. It was an enjoyable read and one of the better selections my book club has made this year.



Details:

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
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Pages: 332
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: 3.1.2019
Buy it Here!

Rating = 4.5
CW: cancer, death, gun violence, murder, child rape, assault on a child, attempted murder...

Simply surreal. There are a couple of different arcs going on in this story. Separately, between the lives of Jo, Gabe and Ursa, as well as all three of them interconnectedly. Glendy also did a wonderful job tackling some very hard topics, in both a sensitive and lighthearted way, as many would react in such situations.

Jo is a graduate student, spending her field research in southern Illinois, at a professor's cabin who rents it out during the summer months for graduate students and field research. She has come back to her studies after being sidelined with a cancer diagnosis, which would have never happened if it hadn't been for her own mother's diagnosis. Jo is not only dealing with all the emotional work that comes with being a cancer survivor, but also with the grief of losing her own mother. Grief is a process. Especially if a parent was taken from you via cancer. I can relate to Jo on this.

Gabe is the neighbour next to the cabin Jo is renting. He is a farmer, sells eggs, and takes care of his mother, who has Parkinson's. He is well-read in numerous topics, but literature and nature the most fascinating to him. Gabe also deals with depression, slight agoraphobia, and anxiety. And as someone who deals with this on the daily, I can relate to Gabe in so many ways, and I commend Glendy for how she portrayed this with Gabe. Each person can react and cope so differently from another when it comes to mental health.

Our wildcard is Ursa. She says she is from the stars. From the Pinwheel Galaxy. When she shows up at the cabin, Jo feels compassion for the young girl, who has bruises, no shows and is quite dirty. Ursa says she will return to her planet in the Pinwheel Galaxy as soon as she witnesses five miracles. And as this continues throughout the summer, with Gabe and Jo, all three grow very close, as a small family would. Until the truth about Ursa and her past come out in the open.

There is so much more to this story. The setting of rural southern Illinois, being in the forests, near creeks and water pools, Jo conducting her field research of bird nests, Gabe spending more and more time with them. The bad side of families, and returning to reality about the overall situation with Ursa. The atmosphere at any given moment felt so real. The strong bond that forms between Jo and Ursa especially, melts your heart. The strong friendships that form. The romance that sparks between Jo and Gabe. And Ursa's wonder and pure joy at the world around her, despite her dark past.

Vanderah did such a wonderful job weaving all these stories together, building an unbreakable bond out of the healing process through so much tragedy.

I am really glad I had the opportunity to read this book. It is something special, to be cherished.

Thank you to Union Lake Publishing and Glendy Vanderah for allowing me to read and review this story.

I have read this book twice now, and I have love it both times!

I loved following the journey of Jo, Gabe, and Ursa's relationship as they grew together through difficult circumstances.

And how could a reader not fall in love with Ursa! She's quite a unique character who touches your heart throughout the entire story.

A book I will recommend to anyone who will listen. Written perfectly. This could have easily gone into the category of cheesy if in the hands of a different author. Glendy Vanderah is a talent that I will be watching for and following for years to come I presume.

I was extremely unhappy with the way anxiety and depression were characterized in this book. I couldn't get past it. Someone with anxiety or depression cannot just "get over it" or push past it or break out of their shell. This was irresponsible writing.

A cozy relationship develops between an unlikely trio of people, the protagonist a midtwenties cancer survivor named Joanna Teale, a 25-year old man with agoraphobia and depression, and the runaway girl who brings them together

I heard nothing but good things about this book so when I picked it up I had high expectations. I questioned where this book was going when the little girl was introduced but the story line made up for it. I enjoyed it and found it to be a quick read.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing for our gifted review copy.

This is a really beautiful and meaningful tale about loss, hope & strength. Honestly, it's hard to put this one into words, but it's definitely a must-read. Beautifully written, memorable & just wonderful. - highly recommend.

Sometimes I'm blessed to read a book that just makes me happy during the duration and after. WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE STARS is a champion in that category. The writing is gifted, the reader's hook gives an immediate suspension of disbelief and the conviction that "yes, this is real" and throughout reading, I felt that the storyline was what mattered most, irregardless of the circumstances of the "real world. " THIS is the focus. I found it incredible that this was a debut novel; I think it is a novel no thinking reader should miss.

This story starts out feeling so special & unique. A grad student, Jo, is doing research in rural Illinois for the summer, and out of the blue, a young girl appears on the property. The girl is disheveled, no shoes, and quickly Jo realizes she’s not from around there. The girl calls herself Ursa, as in the constellation Ursa Major. The story unfolds through the summer, with Jo spending more and more time with the girl, and the neighbor down the road, too, Gabe.

The book, a fairly quick read, is a tribute to nature, as Jo teaches Ursa about her field work studying birds, but it’s also a brief exploration on love, loss, and family. I say brief because I think it could’ve been expanded in some parts, I enjoyed the characters but some of the dialogue seemed a little rushed. I ended the book feeling just a bit disappointed (no spoilers, though).

Overall this was a great story. It read really smoothly, pulling in the reader right from the start and finishing with a need to know more, or at the very least, a need to discuss some of the book’s bigger questions.

A quirky, whimsical, feel-good read. Vanderah really captures the innocence and imagination of one young girl. She draws readers in with this story about miracles, friendship and love. I loved all 3 of the main characters and their stories. I highly recommend!

Seeing all the glowing reviews on here it pains me to say that I really struggled with this book. I’m not exactly sure why, but it took me three starts and a near DNF before I finally got into the story and finished reading it. Perhaps it was the notion that Ursa was an alien (had I stumbled across a weird sci-fi type novel?) or the many issues each and every character dealt with (so much drama!), but it just didn’t gel with me at the time.

Now, after I finally made it through to the end of the story, I can see what endeared it to other readers. Ursa’s story is sad and sweet and did touch my heart as well. Who would not be saddened by a lost little girl in search of love and shelter? I just wanted to hug her.

I had a little bit more trouble with Jo and Gabe, who are each dealing with a multitude of problems of their own. Somehow I struggled to understand their motivations and their attraction to one another, and it was all resolved a bit too smoothly to make it believable for me. Major suspension of disbelief required throughout, and an ending that tied everything into a neat little miraculous bow. Let’s just say that it was probably not the right type of book for this reader, who normally struggles with all of the issues mentioned. As it was, Where the Forest Meets the Stars scraped in as an ok read for me, but sadly not the magical story other readers describe. But that’s reading life!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The beauty of this book is that you want to believe Ursa’s alien story; and at times start to think maybe it is true. Glendy Vanderah gives our little girl, Ursa, such a strong, passionate and intelligent voice that it’s impossible not to fall in love with her. As I thought might happen by the end of the novel I was bawling my eyes out. For so many reasons and at so many levels; none of which felt cheap or convenient.

Characters
Each character we encounter is unique and each has their own challenges. Individually these people felt like real people; who all have complex issues. From Gabe, a reclusive depressive 20 something who can’t get away as he cares for his ailing mother; to Jo, our strong lead female who has undergone a full mastectomy (before she reached 25 years of age), a recent orphan and full-time PhD student; to Tabby who is the kind of bubbly crazy friend that always knows how to do something seemingly insane to get a smile. Even out periphery characters are given enough life to feel like I could relate them back to real people I know.

Plot
This is a character drive story at its core. While the plot is very interesting (and gives us some tense and terrifying moments); the reality is that it’s less about a little girl who just shows up one day with no parents (and no one reporting her missing), and more about the love that grows between the child, our lead Jo and Jo’s possible love interest Gabe. Each of them struggles with their current life and each of them transforms through the book.

Miracles
I love how adorable Ursa’s ‘miracles’ are. I won’t spoil them for you; but it’s so heart warming and an important reminder that what may seem a miracle to one feels commonplace to another. And that we all experience miracles on a semi-regular basis; we’ve just lost the ability to see them as the miracles they are. This is a perfect book for someone who might be struggling to overcome a tough time or incident in their life. As all three characters are also doing so; but more importantly the reminder that miracles happen everyday; you just have to look for them.

Overall
Right from the opening line I was intrigued and ready to jump into this story. How can you not be curious when the first sentence is:
”The girl could be a changeling.”
It reminded me of the straightforward, to the point opening lines of Dickens. “The Marleys were dead to begin with”; the line is both enchanting, setting a mood and letting you know right away that something might be a bit off in this novel you’re about to encounter.
A couple months ago I thought Miracle Creek would be the best debut novel of 2019. Where the Forest meets the Stars has blown Miracle Creek out of the water and solidly affirmed itself as one of the best debut novels I have ever read (never mind for just 2019). I hope to see a lot more from Vanderah. Although I wouldn’t mind if the next story was a little less teary near the end (it’s just so embarrassing to tear-up on the bus).

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book about love, healing, and family. Jo, dealing with her cancer and her mother’s death, finds a girl by her cabin in the woods. The girl claims to be from the stars and was sent to earth to witness five miracles. Jo decides to recruit a local egg seller, Gabe, to help her care for Ursa, who runs away from the authorities. Their journey together will help them learn how to love and trust again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy.

For a middle-aged woman to absolutely enjoy a book about a small child wandering out of the forest and saying she is an alien from a far-off planet that needs to witness 5 miracles before she can go back, I find, is truly something. That is the case with this story, and when I saw the 5-star reviews mounting into the thousands, my curiosity was picked. This is a solid 5-star tale, at least for the first half, then unfortunately it starts dropping a star for me.
The book starts out with a bang, the characters are so likeable, little Ursa is adorable, Gabe and Joanna’s banter is absolutely filled with humor and amusing, so I figured the rest of the book would continue. Not the case here, a little past half way thru we start getting into the weeds of the story, most of the humor between Jo and Gabe has turned into drama and the story begins to lack the good-natured fun it started out with.
This was a quick easy read, I enjoyed my time with these characters but in looking back, my thoughts, smiles and remembrances came from the first of the book, the rest was “magoo”. On a bright note though, I loved the references to the bird studies and learning the nesting habits of the Indigo Buntings.
This one comes in with 4****’s. I thank Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege of receiving this book for free, just for my honest review.

The premise of this book was enticing to me but the pacing was a bit off. It seemed to have a good narrative at times and then drag at other times, where there were places that honestly could have been edited out altogether and made the story more readable. I still enjoyed the ideas and the characters. At times, I questioned their decision making but it was still a good story.

#WhereTheForestMeetsTheStars #NetGalley

This is one of the hardest reviews I've written. I loved this story and the characters but I couldn't believe how dumb the actions of Joanna and Gabe were. Joanna finds a little girl hiding on her property and lets her stay. I know she contacted the police who gave her bad advice and Ursa was a cute lovable child but to keep her seemed stupid. If you can get past that, the story is thrilling and captivating. Ursa is the most lovable child and has a remarkable imagination. I received a copy fo this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was full of wonders, it felt like a warm hug after very bad day.

It was so pure and precious, with beautifully written characters, interesting plot line and gorgeous portrayal of nature.

I loved the story and Ursa, our little alien so much. It was captivating and I was unable to stop reading. I think this story will stay with me for very long time.