What a page turner! The story starts out by foreshadowing “something” happening, but I had no idea what that something was. What a story. No spoilers here, though. The story takes place in a remote cabin in Canada where Alex, a mother of three, has to make hard decisions for her two daughters. Meanwhile, her husband Daniel has to do the same for their son. There are many characters introduced along the way, including the insouciant Kerry, young Kyle, and Justine and her four year old daughter. After reading this thrilling, suspenseful story about family and the will to keep together, you will not forget the characters. They will remain alive in you long after you have turned the last page.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I must say from the blurb that I was expecting a very different story. Initially, I felt the story was slow to start as the family moved to Lost Lake due to Daniel losing his job. What happened next was unexpected and scary. In current times it feels like this could be a reality.
I liked the characters and felt that the author did a good job of developing them as the story unfolded. All emotions were felt as I read this book, from feeling scared, cross, upset to happy for them, then back to concerned etc. Do any if us really know what decisions we would make in a similar situation? The ending leaves us with the unknown. Not that it could be any different.

I tried several times to get into this book but just couldn't the storyline was weak, it would have been better if not all doom and gloom sorry did try

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Last Stars in the Sky.

Daniel has been lying to Alex about being fired from his job and now they have lost their house, They decide to take their two daughters, Mattie and Ruby, to stay in Alex's family cabin in Canada. Sam, their son who is away at college, is going to join them shortly for the holidays. But after a few days at the cabin, something happens that changes all of their plans.

I will be truthful, the reason I requested this book is because of the cover. Let me tell you....I was shocked when the story went in the direction it did. This is a book that will make you happy, sad and scared all at the same time. A "make you think" book. I enjoyed the book but I feel like it left me hanging.

The Last Stats in the Sky by Kate Hewitt was was a very gripping book. What occurred in The Last Stars in the Sky was most definitely every living person’s worst nightmare! Could what happened in The Last Stars in the Sky really happen? Unfortunately, it was a possibility. I hope I do not live long enough to see it happen.

The Last Stars in the Sky was about the evolution and transformation of a family that had had it all until they didn’t. They were tasked with learning how to survive above all else. Nothing could ever be taken for granted ever again. Their main goal was to keep the members of their family safe and intact. They all had to learn how to do things that they never would have had to otherwise. What was once important to each member of the family no longer mattered. Each one of them had to learn skills that they never would have imagined themselves doing beforehand. They were living through the scariest times they could have ever imagined. Inner strength, determination and resilience were the key ingredients to their existence and survival.

Kate Hewitt developed very complex characters that grew, changed and evolved over time. Each one had to adapt to their new world they found themselves in. Each member of the family had to learn to overcome their constant state of fear, the adversity they experienced, doing things they never would have imagined doing in their prior life and how to think and live in survival mode constantly. I admired how Alex, the mother, always put her daughters’ safety first and foremost. Her bravery and resilience was commendable. Kerry also became one of my favorite characters. I did not like Kerry very much initially. Kerry’s character grew on me as she evolved and became more devoted, dependable and supportive toward Alex and her daughters. I enjoyed the friendship and trust Alex and Kerry developed over time. Then there was Daniel, Alex’s husband and father to their three children. Daniel went in search of their oldest child, Sam, when this catastrophe occurred. Sam was at college. Alex implored Daniel to find their son and bring him home to her safely. Daniel’s journey to find Sam was as harrowing as Alex’s existence at the cabin in Canada if not more so.

The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt was suspenseful and scary. I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. The ending left me wondering and hopeful that there might be a second book in the future. I would welcome it. So many parts of The Last Stars in the Sky were so realistic and frightening. It was sad to see that corruption, violence and greed emerged in some of the worst ways. Sometimes disasters bring out the worst in some people and others are left to suffer the consequences they inflict. This was a book that left a lasting impression on me. I recommend it highly.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Last Stats in the Sky by Kate Hewitt through Netgalley in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This isn’t book I would typically choose..I’m so glad I did. Alex & her family move to her family cabin in the wilderness after their normal life fell apart. 8 hours into being at the cabin the world changes forever.

This book is well written, fast moving, & completely engulfs you. I was 100% invested in the characters.

I still have a few lingering questions that would have helped the story & so I only gave 4 stars.

Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of The Last Stars in the Sky.

I have to say that I am not a Dystopian reader at all- and I was not prepared for this book to be dystopian… but I loved it!

It starts with a familiar story of a family on the brink of financial ruin, having to make the unfortunate decision to give up their family home to move to a smaller (in this case much, much smaller) home farther away from their established life, causing a marriage to be at its breaking point. Well- this is about all that is “normal” about the story.

Once settled in the family’s “rustic” (being a nice word) cabin, children unsettled without wifi, and parents sort-of speaking, the world turns on its axis. While watching TV on all of the few channels that come in at the cabin, report fires engulfing cities, then the connection goes out.

The book tells the story of a semi-broken family squished close together by circumstances and survival to either make it out together or break and drown.

The characterization in this is incredibly well-written with the reader reading from both the wife’s and husband’s perspectives. The reader gets a real feel for the quirks and personality traits of each character, as well as how strong the human will to live is. Hewitt describes the setting in the story so well that I have a true mental image in my head of each scene of the book- without making the amount of details overwhelming. This created a both character and plot driven story that far exceeded any expectations that I had.

This novel is genre crossing in the best way including elements from contemporary fiction, family drama, dystopian, sci-fi, mystery and thriller all wrapped up into one beautiful (I mean look at that cover) package. I loved this story and became so invested in the different characters. If you’re interested in any of these genres- or multiple, this was a great read that went in multiple directions that I had not anticipated.

This was so sweet and wholesome! I loved reading this one as an ebook. I loved it for a quick, heartfelt read. 5 from me.

Goodness, I've gone back and forth on how to rate and review this book for days! I was drawn in by the cover and description, but I certainly didn't see the major plot twist coming based on those two things. Had I known, I honestly may not have picked it up... this type of story can easily heighten anxiety or bring nightmares for me, and I'm not likely to pick up a book about the world ending, terrorist attacks, nuclear warfare, etc.

In that way, I did feel a bit duped by the book, as it doesn't line up with what it leads you to believe it's about . . . and yet, the character development is fantastic, leading the reader to keep turning the pages, root for every member of the family. An intense story of survival that manages to not feel too far-fetched, it speaks to the power of love and family.

This was so not the storyline I was anticipating. Not even a little. I love the author, read the editors blurb and started reading. We meet a family (Daniel and Alex and their Mattie and Ruby) dealing with some serious issues. Marital, financial, trust, teenaged angst, defiance etc and so much more. When the family, except for their son who is at college decide to get away to a remote cottage to do a reset, reconnect and figure out how to move forward they are mostly off grid. Once they are able to reconnect what they discover is horrifying. The world they left a few days ago is no longer. The US has been attacked by multiple nuclear bombs and they’re left to figure out how to survive the craziness. When Daniel leaves to get Sam (college son) to bring him to the rest of the family, Alex is left behind with the girls and to figure out how to survive. Militias, staying invisible, crazy people, sustenance and constantly wondering if Daniel and Sam are alive and will make it home to them. Everyone is left to figure out what they’ll do to survive and left wondering if they can survive that as well. This is not at all the book I anticipated reading. Coming off the global pandemic my brain went to there rather than the literal nuclear option. Again, glanced at the description as I adore the author so though not at all what I was anticipating or typically read, this was an emotional, intense, scary story that was so well written and leaves me wanting there to be a sequel.

When everything falls apart, Alex and her family are thrown into chaos when her husband loses his job, and they lose their home. Imagine settling into a rundown cabin in rural Ontario without Wi-Fi, surrounded by miles of solitude. Life gets even darker as the nation is all in danger, bombs here and there.

This story hits you with the familiar ups and downs of survival tales, making you pause between chapters, contemplating the characters' struggles. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, making you contempt choosing between wanting to know what happens next and needing a moment to absorb the characters' struggles. The author doesn't just tell the story; they paint it with such detail that it's like watching it unfold right in front of you. The dual perspectives and those nail-biting cliffhangers? They add layers of suspense and emotion that keep you glued to the pages.

'The Last Stars in the Sky' isn't your typical survival story. It digs deep, exposing the vulnerabilities of the characters, making it hard to resist connecting with them. Sure, I wished for a bit more storytelling depth, but this speculative fiction piece lingers, echoing the harsh realities of our world.

It was a book I would recommend !!

Wow. How is this not getting more attention? This was absolutely fantastic.

Don’t let the beautiful but serene cover fool you- this story is beautiful, yes, but it’s far from serene.

When a struggling family is forced to temporarily relocate to an isolated cabin in a remote part of Canada, they fear the worst has happened. However, shortly after their arrival, they wake up to a world where the actual worst HAS happened. This story follows their often-dark journey from that devastation forward.

I’m always a fan of a realistic survival tale, but too often, they seem to fail in the realistic part of that equation. This one does not. In fact, it exceeds my expectations. Frightening and fascinating in equal measure. I loved it. I would jump at the chance to read a second installment, should the author choose to give us such a gift. Either way, this is definitely one I’ll re-read in the future.

Thank you Kate Hewitt, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Alex and her family escape to rural Canada due to circumstances. they go to her parents' cabin. there are lots of twists and turns in this story.

Not my normal genre of books and I almost gave up in the first part, however I decided to persevere. Well written and interesting subject, however I felt it ended abruptly and difnt conclude the story.

Wow! This author does such an amazing job telling a story that the reader thinks they are living with Alex and her family. I was rooting for so many of the characters. This book will remain in my thoughts for quite some time.

Thanks so much to netgalley and storm Publishing for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I picked The Last Stars in the Sky just for the cover. I did not realize it was a dystopian book. Which lucky for me is a genre I just recently found out enjoy.
What a book. I really thought it would just be a couple working on their marriage in the middle of no where in a cabin. I’m so glad that I was wrong. I really enjoyed the book and everything it was. I’m hoping it will have a sequel because I was not fond with how it ended. I would 100% recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt for an honest review.

This was the first book by Kate Hewitt that I have read and I really enjoyed it. Her writing is beautiful even when the subject matter is deep. I enjoyed how the chapters switched between Alex and Daniel so you could see the struggles each of them were going through for their family.

Definitely don't judge the book by the cover, I was really surprised by the turn of events. It's the end of the world as we know it. I remember having a lot of the same feelings reading this as I did years ago reading The Things That Keep us Here by Carla Buckley. Definitely situations that you will remember.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book and review it. I’m a bit lost for words surprisingly!
The title and the front cover gave the impression of a different book, maybe that’s why looks can be deceiving! I hadn’t read the blurb about it so was going in blind.
It took a twist I never would have expected and turned into a book I would never usually even pick up. But I was hooked at times!
I don’t want to give spoilers away but it is not what you are expecting. We meet Alex and her family. Due to things going wrong for them - they escape to rural Canada to her parents Cabin to try and rebuild a life…but what is about to come you can not predict.
The story is about their fight to survive. I really liked the book and couldn’t put it down but I must say I was disappointed in how quick it went from mid story to bam the end. I feel like it was really rushed and surely there should be a sequel? Also would have been good to learn more about Daniel and Sam’s trip. Don’t want to give too much away!
Will definitely look out for more of her books though.

EXCERPT: We drive in an increasingly taut and expectant silence down the road, the trees on either side of the narrow dirt track looming above, dark and menacing, or maybe that's just me, reading into a difficult situation. After all, none of us really want to be here.
Thanksgiving is in just over a week, and we're meant to be having turkey, watching football, relaxing - reveling in our comfortable home back in Westport, Connecticut, in front of the big screen TV, the turkey in the oven, spinach dip and pita chips on the coffee table, a bottle of red breathing on the sideboard. Except that home isn't ours anymore and we had nowhere else to go but here - my parent's ramshackle cabin in rural Ontario, Canada that hasn't had a single visitor in seven years.
This is a chance to reset, I remind myself. Reboot. Refresh. Re-something. Take deep breaths and mindfully remember what is good about life, what we're grateful for . . . or so all the glossy magazines and curated Instagram feeds tell me. All I need is a matcha iced tea and the space to recalibrate. Throw in a yoga mat and it's all good.
I close my eyes against the dark, winding road. It didn't take much to make me cynical, and yet I still want to believe in it all. I want to believe that six weeks away from reality is really what we need to restart our lives, get them back, much better than ever.

ABOUT 'THE LAST STARS IN THE SKY': “Mom, why are you so mad at Dad?”

“I’m not,” I say, which isn’t exactly true. Putting on a brave face for my two young daughters—pretending everything is fine in my marriage—has been hard. That, and losing the house after Daniel lied to me.

I never expected to have to uproot my family to go live in my parents’ isolated cottage on Lost Lake. It’s twenty miles to the nearest town, an insignificant speck in endless pine forests. Nobody’s lived here for a decade.

Now, I pick up a rusty pail from its nest of autumn leaves and turn to my daughter. Suddenly, I recall how I used to help my own mother pick wild strawberries up here as a little girl. Maybe, this isn’t a punishment. Maybe this place will be the making of our family.

I’m still thinking it when my daughter rests her silky head on my shoulder that evening in the flickering firelight. And when, over a steaming cup of coffee at dawn, I watch a single loon cut a course through the mirrored surface of Lost Lake.

Later, I’ll hold on to these memories—ghostly shreds of another life. Because just eight hours after I sat on that sofa, feeling so hopeful, the world as I knew it—as anyone knew it—was gone for good.

MY THOUGHTS: The Last Stars in the Sky was a complete surprise to me. I automatically request Kate Hewitt's books. I think that there has only ever been one that I have been a bit ho-hum about.
I was expecting a family drama and, yes, that is certainly what I got but not in the format I was expecting!

Kate Hewitt continues to amaze me with the versatility of her writing. I almost stopped reading when the 'big event' happened, but I am so glad I didn't. Kate took me on a journey is scarily realistic and quite probably going to happen at some point in the future.

She chronicles the changes to this 'entitled' family as they struggle for survival at the most basic level; how their priorities suddenly change and they hone skills they never knew they had.

The characters are complex and it was exciting watching as they adapt to their new circumstances, developed resilience and learned to think differently - in terms of survival rather than wants. Alex amazed me, as did Mattie. As they faced more difficulties, their personalities slowly grew into people I actually liked.

This is not an easy read in places. Daniel's journey to rescue their son Sam from his college is harrowing. It could have been a book all on its own. I don't know that I liked the ending - it's a cliffhanger. The jury is still out on that one. But as for the rest of the read, I unexpectedly really enjoyed it and read the whole book in just over a day.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#TheLastStarsintheSky #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Kate likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Brilliant book. Loved it from the start to finish. Admirable Characters and their struggles and tremendous strength is something I admired a lot. Fast paced and engaging throughout. Courage in the time of tragedy is the main strong point of the story. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.