First of all let me just say how much I loved reading The Stars Don’t Lie and actually all of Boo Walker’s books! This story centers around Carver Livingston, a veterinarian who owns his own practice in North Carolina. Originally from Vermont, he receives a call from his parents on his birthday when he learns that they are planning to divorce. Because of a horrible thing he did 20 years ago that has caused him shame and guilt, he has never returned home to Vermont but feels this is the time he just might have to. It’s a story of finding forgiveness in yourself, learning to appreciate who you are, and realizing that you are enough just the way you are. It’s a book that held my interest with warm and caring characters and it really pulled at my heartstrings. I suggest having tissues close by as you read. The side story about Carver’s attachment to his teacher, who was a very wise woman, was an added delight to the storyline. It was nice giving and showing appreciation for all the care and work that teachers put in for their students. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I have come to know that when I see a book by Boo Walker, it’s one that I’ll want to read as they are always enjoyable and delightful stories. It’s a 5 star read and one I will highly recommend to others!

I have enjoyed several of the books the author, Boo Walker, has written. This was another good addition to his growing list of wonderful books. The characters were well developed and I felt like I could picture them each vividly. I have to say that one of my favorite characters was Carver’s former teacher, Mrs. Cartwright. After having a teacher who made such a difference in my life and who I spent a lot of time with for years after high school graduation, I could identify with this delightful lady. A story of forgiveness and redemption, you will travel through the past and present days of Carver. There are a myriad of emotions buried in the pages that you must trudge through … but it is worth the journey. I felt like my heart was wrenched out of my chest several times as I traveled through the story. As you realize that no one is perfect and we all have flaws, it is interesting to see which ones you are shocked to discover. I cannot encourage you strongly enough to find yourself lost in the pages and realize that we are all part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I did not know what to expect. I was intrigued by the title at first glance.

On the earlier chapters, I was somehow reminded of Coehlo’s books. As I continued reading it, I forgot Coehlo and asked myself: what’s the point in all these? Unknowingly, I may have gone into an introspection, myself - just like the MC in this book.

Each chapter is relatively long and I find it slowing me down. I came to a point when I thought to myself whether the narratives will be relevant to the whole plot or not.

Mid-way through, I got so disappointed with the characters’ decisions. I wanted to understand but got frustrated because I cannot fathom where they are coming from.

It’s masterful that when I had all this rage built-up already, the plot unfolds and answers all the questions I had in mind - providing clarity and perspective on how they came to be. When my built-up rage gradually loosened up, there went my tears - on standby.

Carver’s homecoming story intertwining with his teacher’s life beyond profession had been purposeful, or as they say, may have been led by fate. It is natural for teachers to care for their students way beyond when they are inside the classroom, but who will care for them if their immediate family had already gone?

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It made me feel a range of emotions in the short time I spent reading it. I went on from disappointment, anger, confusion, sadness, awe, and hope - and a lot more in between (not arranged in a specific order). In the end, it has been heartwarming, reassuring and unexpectedly, comforting.

A man who thought he put his shattered past behind him embarks on a reflective journey home in a heartfelt novel by the bestselling author of The Singing Trees and A Spanish Sunrise . Haunted by a tragic decision he made twenty years ago, veterinarian Dr. Carver Livingston has not once returned to his Vermont hometown. Now his parents’ impending divorce and his mother’s plea for support lure Carver to a reluctant homecoming. His sweep into Teterbury, save a marriage, and get out before anyone else from his past knows he was even there. Fate has other plans. It’s hard to hide from former friends. Harder still to fight old feelings for the crushing and beautiful high school soulmate whom he dreams of pursuing again. And Mrs. Cartwright, his fragile English teacher, who once pulled Carver out of sadness. She taught him to always look up and to see life’s grander perspective in the stars. Now it’s Carver’s turn to help Mrs. Cartwright find those bright lights in the dark. Against his need to leave, Carver decides to stay longer, as he, his mother and father, and Mrs. Cartwright are all at turning points in their lives. Hope is not lost. If they look up, they’ll see that tonight, the stars still shine.


This book was sheer perfection. Will recommend to others.

The Stars Don't Lie, by Boo Walker, was difficult to rate, and I changed my rating several times. On one hand, I loved the story of forgiveness, love, and second chances. Walker is particularly insightful when handling issues of age and loss. There is much wisdom in this book that can help all of us. On the other hand, the protagonist, an extremely successful veterinarian, was emotionally stalled by an adolescent incident nor did he seem to have grappled with it at all for two decades. His reactions were often so childish that I was more annoyed than sympathetic. My other little gripe about this novel was overuse of the word "smirk." People didn't smile or grin...they smirked, which is a slightly mean way of showing amusement. I blame the editing more than the author. Nonetheless, this is a quick, absorbing read that I do recommend. 3.5 stars that I am rounding up to 4.Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

This book contains a lot, but it’s just the right amount of “a lot”. The characters have real struggles, some very painful. Carver has been bogged down by his past and has been running from it since he left his home town after high school. Twenty years later he is pulled back to help his parents through a crisis and is forced to face the past and in the process help Mrs. Cartwright, his old teacher who helped him pull himself back up during a dark time in his life. The characters were delightful and real and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

As much as I wanted to, I did not love this book. The story line had promise, but the main character, Carver Livingston, lacked substance and depth... He really made me want to punch him. We meet him as a very wealthy 38yo veterinarian who's established his own practice and has even invented some innovative bone plate thing for dogs, yet emotionally, he's completely stuck in the past... stuck in one day 20 years ago, to be exact. While the event of that day would be major for anyone, it was so frustrating to me that Carver is still ENTIRELY defined by a choice he made for himself that day despite all he has gone on to accomplish. I get that he hasn't truly healed and it still affects him... aren't we all haunted by the poor choices of our past selves? The thing is, he is so self-centered that he thinks everyone (his parents, his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, his entire high school class) is still stuck in his past as well, like their lives for the past 20 years have revolved around him. C'mon, he's got to be smarter than that! This egotism becomes the driving force for the rest of the book, and we're constantly bludgeoned with the "woe is me" mentality of Carver Livingston. Geez, even his name was trying too hard.
Rounding up my 2.5-star rating to 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A bit of a slow or maybe sad start to the book that left me uncertain if I’d like it, but honestly I’m so glad I continued! The backstory helps the rest of the story shine and have so much more depth. A story of human weakness, resiliency, and most importantly- connection.

I loved the pace and the writing style of this novel and I needed tissues at the end!

I loved the characters and the story line and I loved the occasional swear word too.

This is a great novel with a deeper message and I would recommend this one to all my book friends.

I had a hard time getting into this book. Carver, the main character, is still hung up on the main thing that happened in his life when he was 18 and thinks everyone in his small town he grew up in will be too, even though it's been 20 years. As he finds out, everyone but him has moved on, living their lives, barely thinking of him. I finished the book and enjoyed the ending but the hubris of the main character was hard to swallow at the beginning.

3.5 Stars.
I'm very conflicted about this book. The style of writing had me hooked from the beginning, but the story really dragged for the most part. The main character, Carver, was so stuck in the past that it really irritated me. How could he not have moved on from the girl that left him 20 years ago? They hadn't even been together for very long and it was high school! He had let that rule his whole life for 20 years. His deep dark secret wasn't as big as I expected with all the build-up in the book. Yes, the dark thing he did in his past affected everyone, but I was looking for a much bigger reason behind what he had done. His seeming to think the whole world revolved around him was irritating.

I love the paragraph in the book: "I was nothing...and yet I was everything." Yest, Carver did wise up in the end and became someone I could like.

The ending of the book made it worth reading, but I'll admit I almost gave up on it at certain points. Like everyone else says, his old teacher was the best character in the book. She had helped him so much in the past and now it's his turn to be there for her. He did a great job of that and their interactions were the highlight of the book.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

A well written story that had a great ending. Keep writing and we will keep reading. I hope you have ideas for your next nove.

The Stars Don't Lie is the first book I've read by Boo Walker and I absolutely loved it! I loved Boo's writing style - I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down!
This story follows Dr Carver Livingston as he returns to his home town after an absence of 20 years. I loved the way the author really got into Carver's head and delved into Carver's thought processes as he was forced to face his past. The relationship Carver has with his ex-teacher is so heartwarming, and I loved the role reversal here.
This is a story of second chances, family, forgiveness, and finding your tribe. Parts of the story really tug at your heartstrings and make you stop and take stock of what's important - the messages are so relatable and relevant.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced digital copy to review.

Life

This core of book is the story of the Livingston family, touched by near tragedy 20 years ago. Like the proverbial butterfly wings, the ramifications of that day are responsible for anger, resentment and confusion.

After a teenage breakup, Carver does the unthinkable and attempts to end his life. While he survives and outwardly appears to have gotten beyond the pain, in reality it has driven him forward at the same time as it has repelled him from his home town of Teterbury, Vermont. His return to help his parents through a marital issue forces him to face the past. Will it be enough?

I felt this book was well written, kept my attention and vested me in the characters lives’. TW: suicide.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I really loved this book. I had read done other pre-release reviews and was afraid I wouldn’t like the main character. That never happened. I liked him and understood how he felt. Loved his parents’ part of the story line. It reminded me a bit of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s writing style and that is a compliment, as she is my favorite author. I look forward to reading another book by Boo Walker. Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this book as a pre-release copy for an honest review.

THE STARS DON'T LIE is a new novel by Boo Walker, a prolific writer whose books are generally well-received and have beautiful covers. Unfortunately, I found the main character of this book, Carver Livingston, to be extremely egotistical, self-centered, and generally annoying. He is almost 40 years old and an accomplished veterinarian, but he still can't get over the girl, Shannon, who dumped him in high school. Really?! He returns home in time for a twentieth reunion and has to deal with his parents' pending divorce, plus escalating depression-like symptoms from a favorite teacher. It's a feel-good book so readers will not be at all surprised that all turns out in the end, including a new romance. Walker is compared to Nicholas Sparks, but the writing here was not as evocative or emotional; instead, the repeated references to Carter's concerns quickly became dreary and tiresome. So many books ... so little time ... unless you only read romances or love a small town Vermont setting, I would suggest looking for something else.

I found myself having a difficult time connecting with Carver, who has spent the past 20 years of his life pining over a short-lived high school relationship that he let almost end his life altogether. I found him a bit tiresome and desperate, going from one fizzled out relationship directly to fawning over another woman. I gave the book a fair chance, but it just wasn’t for me, in the end. All that to say, it was still great writing and I do believe that others will find it thoroughly enjoyable.

Going home is hard for many of us, but when you're a man who's left home twenty years ago and never gone back, it's fraught with complications, difficult memories, and challenging conversations. In THE STARS DON'T LIE, Boo Walker has shared an engaging story about just such a man in Carver Livingston who returns to the chaos of divorcing parents, a profoundly sad teacher needing support, and the possibility of a renewed relationship with the one who got away. While some of the inner dialogue about not wanting to go home and the powerful regrets tended to drag down the story, ultimately, I found it an uplifting and entertaining, heart grabbing story. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The story follows the vet Dr. Carver Livingston who left his hometown shortly after he graduated highschool and hasn't been back since. Now with his mom calling him for help, Carver is going back and is reconnecting with his past.
This story touches themes of mental health, infidelity, hope and redemption. The premise of the book was very good but the characters and story did not grab me as much as A Spanish Sunrise did. I liked the character of Carver and I could empathise with him and his hopes and fears. I very much enjoyed his growth over the 340 pages.
I especially enjoyed the Character of Mrs. Cartwright and I loved to see the impact a great teacher can have on a child or teenager. I think it is something many people can relate to. I personally did not like to go to school but I still think about some teachers and the impact they had on my life. She was the real main character in this story.
The book had some beautiful moments but some chapters just dragged on a bit too much for me. It was a good book but it did not work for me completely. I think it is a lovely read for everyone who likes a redemption arc or a coming-of-age story.

Thank you to Boo Walker, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

All Too Real. This book is all about a guy who hasn't been back to his hometown in 20 yrs due to some massive trauma while he was in school who finally goes back home... and has his world and entire life and history rocked by shocking revelations about what *actually* happened back then. As someone who read this book, then went back to visit my parents near my hometown (they now live in the next County up, rather than the house I spent grades 7+ and college in), and had his dad just casually mention a previously forgotten if not outright unknown fact about his own high school history... yeah, this book is truly all too real. Add in the fact that I have my own version of "Mrs. Cartright", a teacher who stepped in and stepped up at exactly the right moment in my life - in my case, Tommy Harris of Kingston, GA, who absolutely always deserves every accolade I can possibly give him... and yeah, like I said in the title... this book is all *too* real. And yet, that is exactly what made it so relevant and cathartic, even years after I like to think I've "fully" dealt with all my own real-world crap from that era. (Though in defining both who Carter, in the book, and myself, in my "real" life, became... perhaps one never *truly* moves on from that era and that pain... which is actually something Walker actively looks into even into the closing words of the text here.)

For anyone who has ever had one of those teachers worthy of a "Mr. Holland's Opus Finale", you're gonna want to read this book. If you haven't seen that movie, seriously, go back and watch it. Phenomenal, and the ending is particularly moving... and clearly an inspiration for the finale of this particular tale.

Overall truly a particularly well written and well told story, one that some will clearly relate to more than others - but which has enough universal truth to be truly transcendent, no matter the particulars of your own life. Very much recommended.