Thank you to netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In the little stars is a compelling gripping novel. Set in England Post brexit it focuses on the lives of 2 very different families. When two teenagers meet on a train one morning and the consequences of this. This is more than a light read and at times I really couldn't put this book down. It also gives such an insight into brexit and how it effects immigrants living in the UK. A must read

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC

Wow what an emotional roller oyster. Brevity racism everyday life

Rachid is part of a Muslim family - his father is strict Muslim and his mother French. Rachid is determined to follow his love of music and resents that his sister is so strictly contained within the family, unable to mix as her peers do.
Jodie is opinionated and independent. She wants to follow a fashion course - she is supported by her Mum, but not so much her Dad who she considers to be a racist, along with her grandfather and her brother.
Rachid and Jodie meet on the train on the way to college one morning and the attraction is immediate. Their relationship has to be a secret as their families would both disapprove.
Many of the events in this book are apparently based on actual events and this makes this well written tale all the more emotional and disturbing. The issues addressed are very much at the forefront of today's society. Keep the tissues handy.
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Linda Green/Quercus Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rachid and Jodie are about to meet for the first time when they are both travelling to Leeds on the same train. Their lives are about to implode as the attraction between them is instant and real. However, regardless of how powerful the attraction, the impact that their relationship will have on their individual families will have far reaching consequences.

In a fractured North of England, reeling from years of political neglect, there is an undercurrent of discontent. Brexit has split families apart but there is also strong racial tension which rears its ugly head and which becomes such a strong theme throughout the story. In Little Stars brings these divisions in our once united nation into sharp focus and there is much to ponder over with characters and situations which feel scarily authentic, and which are so realistically portrayed that the sense of unease and creeping disquiet, from both sides of the divide, makes for uncomfortable reading.

There is very quickly an emotional connection made with Rachid and Jodie, both are lovely young people who just want to make their way in the world and whose shared hopes, dreams and love for the music of Prince really resonate, but as is the way with star crossed lovers, life has a nasty habit of biting back and, without revealing any spoilers, Linda Green doesn't pull her punches when it comes to what happens next.

I was both visibly shaken and emotionally drained by the conclusion of In Little Stars. Without doubt this powerful family drama will stay with me for a long time to come.

I adored reading In Little Stars and although I couldn't stop reading, I didn't want it to end!
It is such a unique idea, following the aftermath of Brexit, with a modern take on Romeo and Juliet.
It covers very difficult topics and is an extremely hard hitting read, especially with the realisation that these are real life situations that people experience.
I loved the relationship between Jodie and Rachid. They were such a wonderful couple and my heart broke for them not feeling able to share their love with their families.

I have always enjoyed Linda Green's writing. Her characters are so well written and I particularly enjoyed having the four different points of view, from Jodie and her mother, Donna and Rachid and his mother, Sylvie. This gave a real insight into the families lives and feelings.

This read had me sobbing at mulitple points.
The ending was particularly emotional, but I also found it heartwarming and it does leave a glimmer of hope.

I really loved this book and I know it and the characters will stay with me for a long time to come.

As one of those 'Eastern Europeans stealing jobs' living in UK, this book definitely hit quite hard. I remember the feeling so unwelcomed after living in UK for 16 years after brexit vote has gone through. It wasn't as bad where I lived but the dread was there. I can totally relate to rashid and his family and being Muslim probably made it much harder. These two families really were divided more than others and R's and J's love was doomed from the start. Cried like a baby at the end. Great book

Oh My! This book was so emotional for me. It came on the back of me watching a play, set in the 90s and featuring racism and violence as its core themes. Here Rachid and Jodie are so Romeo and Juliet (yes the R&J did not escape me) and it is their romance that is the crux of this book.
Set just after the Brexit vote which really did set the cat amongst the pigeons immigration-wise (don't get me started on how well that's going) we follow Sylvie and her family as their lives in the UK are getting somewhat precarious. Meanwhile we also follow Jodie and her family who, well, I'll leave you to discover the truth about them in your own time - suffice to say, it ain't pretty!
Oh my! Yes I know I've said that, but it's worth saying again. This book is powerful. Especially towards the end, which I am not going to spoil for you. It starts off gentle. A word here, a rally there. But it all soon degenerates into ugly.
But in amongst all the ugly there is some beautiful writing. In amongst all the hurt and pain there are some lighter, tender moments. Hope. The author definitely keeps the book from going too dark with these inclusions. Whilst also keeping the hard hitting point.
With racism and immigration hot topics at the moment, this book is perfectly timed as a reminder of what could happen. To anyone. Evil people are out there, infiltrating.
And the characters were all wonderful - good and bad. I connected to each and every one on some emotional level. Some more than others obviously. But each was so well drawn.
Pacing was good and the writing tight without any waffle or padding.
I've read a couple of this author's previous books but, on examination, I see a few gaps - even more to add to my bulging TBR whilst I await her next book.. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Wow, I certainly wasn't expecting that. When Brexit was mentioned I thought here we go but it was so much more than that
Brexit, racism, young love, death and heartache. A heart wrenching story that made me cry !

I enjoyed this book. Set in Yorkshire after the Brexit referendum, 2 young people, Jodie and Rachid fall madly in love. However, they know that neither family will be happy about their relationship so they decide to keep it secret. This is a story about racial tension and it is also a modern day Romeo and Juliet, so be prepared!! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

A great read that hits a nerve … what I thought was a love story between Rachid & Jodie was so much more … touching on raw subjects of brexit racism love across religions this book will stay with me for a long time

A well written and heartbreaking contemporary take on the age old Romeo and Juliet tale of young love in divided families. Sadly it also highlights the increasingly divided country we now live in post Brexit, and it feels important to hold onto the small glimmer of hope that the story ends on.
Thank you to netgalley and quercus books for an advance copy of this book

Sylvie and Donna travel on the same train to work each day but have never spoken. Their families are on different sides of the bitter Brexit divide, although the tensions and arguments at home give them much in common.

What they don't know is that their eldest children, Rachid and Jodie, are about to meet for the first time and fall in love. Aware that neither family will approve, the teenagers vow to keep their romance a secret.

But as Sylvie's family feel increasingly unwelcome in England, a desire for a better life threatens Rachid and Jodie's relationship. Can their love unite their families - or will it end in tragedy.
Started this book and could not stop reading it until I'd finished!! Every time I thought I had things sussed, along came another surprise!! So rare for a story to catch me out, so well done to the author. I LOVED IT!!!

This is a story set in UK post Brexit but it could be set all over Europe as the hate and the prejudice are similar all over the continent.
Love can ignore hate and prejudice but it will not always win. You can be young and in love but you will have to face hate and fear.
Linda Green wrote an emotionally charged, poignant, and thought provoking book that force you to choose between love and hate.
Well written, tightly knitted, and compelling. It is an important story and I hope a lot of people wil read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I’m an ugly crier. This book made me cry. Big ugly tears. It was so Romeo and Juliet and so almost a musical but with such a deep story. I wasn’t sure at first but Linda Green is such a good writer I was quickly drawn in.

Set in post-Brexit Yorkshire, In Little Stars is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet written from the point of view of two mothers both dealing with Brexit's effect on their families, albeit for different reasons. I loved this book - it's sensitively written and explores difficult topics without taking sides, though heart-breakingly sad.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A flicker of romance, sparked at college between 2 families, divided by culture ...Romeo and Juliet in the Brexit age with rampant racism against Rachid, the Romeo of the piece, and his family for being different, for daring to speak another language and for the colour of his skin and bitter disputes in the household of Jodie, whose Grandfather leads the racism and whose Mum is too afraid to stand up and speak out.

This is a beautifully written tragedy, drawing not only on Shakespear but more importantly on the death of MP Jo Cox and in the hope of highlighting that we can be better to each other.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me the oppurtunity to read this.
Since i found Linda Greens books, ive always been a fan. So i was really looking forward to giving this a go. As always Linda delivers. At first i did find the book hard to get into but i think that was more a personal reading slump more than anything because when i finally did get into it, i really enjoyed it. Its was a very up to date take on romeo and juliet and really made me think about how things are in the modern world we live in which makes me sad because it is a very real thing. It was a lovely story as always from Linda and i definitely recommend giving it a read

Oh my goodness I havent wept so much at a storyline for years, this is an absolute triumph of a book!

In Little Stars is a modern re-telling of Romeo and Juliet, based around the Brexit referendum and the divisive outcome. Rachid is from a Moroccan/ French middle class family- he's 17 and just about to start a new college course; Jodie is white British from a less wealthy background; her granddad is openly racist as is her 15 year old brother. Rachid and Jodie (R&J) meet at college and bam, like star crossed lovers, fall for each other but know that their families wont accept them - they meet in secret, and are happy to continue like this for as long as they have to, when a change in circumstances means they need to move more quickly. Even knowing how the story was going to end (no spoilers apart from Shakespeare!) - when the big moment happened, I was in absolute pieces.

The story is told from the point of view of Rachid, his mother Sylvie, Jodie and her mother; both mothers are trying to keep their families together despite fractures constantly appearing in their respective families, and despite stubborn husbands determined to plough their own furrow. The storyline with Jodie's younger brother and his cousin was so heart-breaking and so realistic, it couldnt have gone any other way but was utterly soul destroying to think about.

The epilogue of the book talks about MP Jo Cox and her tragic death; Im not alone in hoping there's got to be a better way forward - In Little Stars is a fantastic portrayal of what happens when we're so brutally divided. Its going to be one of my books of the year for sure

Sylvie and Donna travel on the same train to work each day but have never spoken. Their families are on different sides of the Brexit divide, although the tensions and arguments at home give them much in common. What they don't know is that their eldest children, Rachid and Jodie are about to meet for the first time and fall in love. Aware that neither family will approve, the teenagers vow to keep their romance a secret. But as Sylvie's family feel increasingly unwelcome in England, a desire for a better life threatens Rachid and Jodie's relationship.

This is thought provoking, raises some difficult issues, and it had me shedding big fat tears. The story centers around Brexit, relationships and politics. It's told from multiple points of view and loosely mirroring Romeo and Juliet but with racism, prejudice, love and tragedy. This is an emotional and beautifully written story that will stay with me for a long time. In the authors note we learn of the inspiration for this story. This is one of the best books I've read this year.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #QuercusBooks and the author #LindaGreen for my ARC of #InLittleStars in exchange for an honest review.

A modern Romeo and Juliet story set in Yorkshire after Brexit. Two very different families and the voices that we hear are mainly those of the two mothers, Donna and Sylvie. Two women who get the same train every day. Donna's family are anti everything. Her younger son, Sam, is constantly in trouble at school - most recently for racist abuse, her husband doesn't have a good word to say about his neighbours who are Polish. Her only bright light is her daughter, Jodie, who is about to start college but who sadly seems to have pulled away from her. Jodie confides in her aunt more than her mother. Sylvie is French and married to a French Moroccan. Her family are Muslim but Sylvie did not convert at marriage. They have lived in the UK for 20 years, her husband is a consultant and she teaches midwifery in the university. Home life is not easy, her daughter, Amina, is finding school hard as her friends have freedom to go to parties and get boyfriends which her father will not allow. Her son, Rachid, battles with his father because he is going to college to do music rather than do A' Levels and go into medicine like his father and his grandfather. At college, Jodie and Rachid meet and because of the difference between their families, their love must be secret until ....

The characters of Donna, Sylvie, Jodie and Rachid and their viewpoints are sensitively handled and you are invested in them. The Romeo and Juliet theme makes you fear the ending - you are waiting for the tragedy but are not sure how, when. But more than that there are topics of discrimination and even grooming. The huge moral dilemma we all feel about whether to act when we see in justice or stay silent - not get involved. The episode on the train is harrowing and you wonder - what would I have done?

A story of love, of respect and maybe a story that offers just a glimpse of hope.