When her family’s comfortable middle-class,life is upended, Alex, her husband and children escape to the family cottage in the wilds on Ontario Canada. I was expecting a gentle read about a family re-connecting, but the story takes a dark turn, when the United States is hit by a series of nuclear attacks.

I found this story completely immersive. The narrative is tightly woven and the character development is superb.The Last Stars in the Sky is genuinely frightening and heart wrenching in .places. The dystopian landscape the author creates is eerily convincing, and will haunt me for some time to come.

Having grown up with a cottage myself in Ontario, it was a delight to read a story set in that familiar territory.

The beginning of the book was quite engaging and then it took an unexpected twist. It was interesting to see how the characters changed as they coped to survive in their new reality. Their abilities to improvise and tackle challenges was admirable, however just too many scenarios in the book that were not believable from having injuries that were healed quickly and an unlimited supply of various vehicles with gasoline. The ending left me questioning how these people went unnoticed for so long in this small community and then having the means to escape in the manner they did after the destruction that came before them.

When an affluent family living in Connecticut, comes to an impasse in their lives, a mother, father and two daughters pack up and head for a family cabin in rural Ontario. An older son is away at college. Before they are truly settled in, an unthinkable nightmare begins. Power goes out. The internet stops. TV and radio cease. Finding out what happened is difficult as there is no operational news source. Armageddon has begun with nuclear strikes on multiple American cities by an unknown source for unknown reasons.

This is a story of survival. And loss. And the meaning of love, family and friendship. It’s a tough read which is frightening while hopeful at the same time. Imagine a world in chaos with no order and no working set of laws. At times I loved the book and at times I couldn’t read fast enough to get past the disturbing passages.

Publication date is soon, January 24. If your a fan of dystopian fiction this is a must read. For me it was a 3 1/2 star rounded up to a 4 for the excellent characterization and plot development. Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review b

A powerful read that grabs your attention and is an exhilarating and hard hitting look at what it is to survive and love when the world as we know it ends.
I was captivated by the complexity of the characters, they're multifaceted and nobody was perfect in their actions, the burden of the life "before" weighed on each one of them as they tried to transition into survival and the harshest of realities. Taking a look at how self sufficiency in a remote place can be a gift and a curse, and how community generosity and strength is key to humanity, even when so much is lost.

If you are looking for a deeply emotional and heartwarming women's fiction about a family dealing with the loss of a family member (as the title, cover, and synopsis would suggest), this NOT that book! Also, if you have read other books by this author (as I have), THIS book is very, very different from those.

I admit... I stayed up WAY past my bedtime in order to read and then finish this in one sitting. That is how well the author drew me in and got me involved in the main characters and their stories. The book is extremely well-written with vivid descriptions and emotional plot lines.

However, I have to deduct a star (and if it wasn't so well-written and compulsively readable, I would deduct another one) because I felt blindsided by the actual topic of the story which was no way clear in the synopsis or the beautiful cover. I had to skip over several sections that contained violence and humankind's tendency toward inhumanity to others.

Before publishing, I would sincerely urge publisher and author to put a "trigger warning" at the top of the description online (I understand it's probably too late for the printed copy) to let readers know exactly what kind of a book this is. This is something different from "women's fiction!" It contains violence and fear and the impending reality of a nuclear holocaust.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kate is not afraid to tackle big subjects, and she does with so well. This novel really got me thinking, how would I survive in a post apocylptic world. Really thought provoking and well written, I loved it.

What a gripping, thought-provoking, page-turner of a novel. I literally couldn't put it down. Thank you Storm for giving me the opportunity to read it. It's certainly got me thinking about what I'd be like in similar circumstances... I would be useless I'm sure. A brilliant book Kate Hewitt!!!

The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt is a story of a family who feels like they have hit rock bottom, both financially and emotionally. What could be worse? Oh maybe a nuclear war. I am admittedly not a fan of apocalyptic fiction, but in spite of that, I feel like this was well written. Alex and her children struggle to survive in a remote cabin as the world around them crumbles, while her husband searches for their son who is away at college. I took off a star because I was not able to emotionally connect with the characters, however I was very invested in their story. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Books for the ARC!

The Last Stars in the Sky
by Kate Hewitt
Pub Date: January 24, 2023
Thanks to this prolific writer, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was a new author for me but it most certainly will not be my last.
She mainly writes historic and contemporary fiction. Both of which I enjoy.
5 stars

When hope is all but gone, how much can one family bear?

Alex and her family had no choice but to settle in her parents' tumbledown cabin in rural Ontario for six weeks. Everything in her life has been thrown into disarray after her husband lost his job, which meant losing their home. Plunged into a sudden downturn - to somehow survive in an old cabin without a Wi-Fi connection, saving on electricity that runs on a generator, and the next neighbor miles away - life couldn't get much bleaker than it is. But just as Alex and her family barely settle into their new routine, they face a new challenge again. This time, the challenge looms larger - one altered by a nation's collapse where chances of survival appear grim.

One thing about survival stories is that the readers know what to expect because they typically follow the same familiar structure. There were instances when I wavered between reading on and pausing to think about how horrible the characters' circumstances would end up. Survival stories like this will always have different versions of grief - one I wanted to avoid but knew I had to absorb because that's what this particular genre hopes to convey.

In terms of writing, the author wrote in such vivid detail that some readers would find it hard to "unsee" the level of authenticity conveyed by the plot. The dual narrative structure also allowed for more emotional connection, and I appreciate how the alternating perspectives also built suspense and tension. Ending each character's perspective with a cliffhanger made this book even more compelling.

While 'The Last Stars in the Sky' might seem like another gripping and poignant tale of survival, I can assure you it's anything but that. Connecting with the characters becomes hard to refuse as they reveal vulnerabilities that reflect our own. My only misgiving is that the narrative could have been more extended. Emotions are abundant from this aching piece of speculative fiction - one that will surely haunt its readers for a very long time and one that may come in handy, too. After all, a dystopian future is no longer a fictional concept - it is a reality that currently exists in nations where oppression and inequality persist.

Thank you #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for an unbiased opinion. Although I received this book for review, the opinions shared are purely my own.

Imagine waking up one day and the world as we know it is gone, no electricity or running water and gangs emerge to fight over resources and territory. This book is not what I was expecting upon seeing the cover and reading the description but the story was captivating to the point where i did not want to stop reading to see what happens next.

The ending of this booked is open and there is an uncertainty which left me hooked and wondering what might happen next. If there is a second installment, the author did an amazing job in setting the story up with a mix of enough backstory while still leaving questions unanswered for us to return for book two.

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I felt this was a well crafted family drama that was deeper than you imagine it might . The authors writing reminds me somewhat of the early writings on Ann Patchett. Overall was a well crafted excellent read worthy of your time
Thanks to the publisher for letting me review the books

Alex isn't sure how or if she will forgive her husband, Daniel, for this horrible betrayal. He has not only lost his job but also their home and had kept it from her for months! As they drive to her parent's cottage in a remote part of Canada, Alex is worried about what the future holds. Their 14 year old daughter, Mattie, has been suspended from school, and is livid with her mom for making her leave her friends and life, as well as getting rid of all her social media. 11 year old Ruby is quiet and unsure of what's happening with her family. Their oldest son, Sam, is off at college and will join them later. Alex doesn't know how she will ever forgive Daniel and also explain to the children about losing everything. She never gets the opportunity to tell them anything when they wake one morning to an unimaginable tragedy.

I was expecting this to be a book about family dynamics and moving past betrayal. I did not at all expect the turn that the story took! I became so engrossed that,whenever I put it down, it took me a moment to realize I was not living in the book's world. I don't want to give anything away, but I could not put this book down. My only wish is that there is a sequel because, although the ending was satisfying, I wanted to keep going and know more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am so grateful to have been given this book! Kate did a fabulous job of pulling back the curtain on Alex and his family. So many emotions throughout the book - the good, bad, and ugly! Cannot wait to go back and read other titles from her!

I requested this book because of the title and the book cover. I didn't expect the story line at all.. A family returns to a remote cabin in Canada to recover from a series of events that had changed their life style and relationships.
What happens next will change everything they knew in their former lives. Without giving away the storyline, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until you are finished! Abook of survival and what family means. Highly recommendable.

This story was not what I expected when I read the title ! The story left me incredibly thoughtful with what could happen in this world. The story is of survival, family and sheer determination under such circumstances, I certainly don’t want to give away any spoilers so I would just recommend this book to you.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for the early read

Thank you so much Storm Publishing and NetGalley.

Alex and Daniel are trying to save their marriage and take their two kids to a home that has been in their family. It's on a lake in the middle of nowhere and quiet. One morning she wakes up and sees on the news that something terrible has happened.

This was not all what I had expected. Holy $%@. I don't want to give any of it away, but I was shocked at the turn of events. This was written so well and I was clinging to each word trying to figure out what was going to happen. I really hope there is another!

This is a solid 4.5 star read for me! I loved it. Not at all what I thought it would be like. It contains a story about a dystopian world that, unfortunately, could potentially happen in real life someday. I became so invested in these characters and their survival; I couldn't put the book down. I only wish we could have seen more of Daniel and Sam's story and their journey. What else did Daniel experience? Was it that first group of boys that messed with his head, or was it more than that?

This is my first time reading anything by Kate Hewitt, and I loved how she set the scene, using perfect descriptions so I could easily depict this story in my head. I will definitely read more by this author because of that.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this. It was an absolutely delightful reading experience. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I loved this book! I can't say much without giving things away but this didn't go the way I was expecting.

Alex and Daniel are trying to work things out and save their marriage and end up moving, with their two daughters, to live in the cabin where Alex's parents lived. Not long after their arrival, events take a turn and life will never be the same again. Various other characters, some more likeable than others, dip in and out - the author has no problems with killing off those she needs to - and the story moves at a good pace. At times, I thought that characters behaved in a pretty improbable way but then again, who knows how you'd react in their situation and this didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. I thought it was great and, like other reviewers, would love a sequel. Sometimes when I've enjoyed a book, I want a sequel because I want the story to continue even though it has ended and a sequel isn't necessary. In this case though, I do feel that there is enough of this world and this story left to explore so I really hope that there is more to come. Without wanting to give too much away, if you've enjoyed this book, you might also enjoy 2034, also on Netgalley. I read both quite close together and they complement each other quite well.