A Certain Kind of Starlight is another magical realism story by Heather Webber featuring her signature whimsical nature inspired plot full of love, hope, southern sass, and sweet magic.

Set in a small-town in Alabama, two estranged sisters Addie and Tessa Jane learn how to forgive and move on from their painful pasts amidst a mysterious starry phenomenon that has been a family secret for generations.

I was utterly enchanted by this story which is my favorite Heather Webber book since South of the Buttonwood Tree and also in my opinion, her best so far. The starry backdrop infused the story with the perfect amount of whimsy and it was perfectly balanced with the serious topic of domestic abuse. The birds, diamonds, stars, and light were the enchanting elements that brought clarity to the characters who were each battling their shadows in different ways. The feel good aspect of baking along with the power of sisterhood brought the cozy charming essence of southern small-town magic to life and light.

As in all of Heather Webber's stories, there are complicated relationships, dysfunctional families, strong women, and the magic that arises from self-discovery. Thrown in with some sugar and love, a recipe for a heartfelt story tasting of stars, and looking like diamonds is certainly the kind of starlight readers will flock to.

I liked a lot of things about this book. The characters were wonderfully written and the intricacies of the family connections through the local town was done really skillfully without anyone feeling like a two dimensional character which I always love when it’s a big cast. The mix of modern and magic was never really explained which was fine, but also never explained why no one cared which took me out a little. We also had a number of plot points really neatly tied up and sometimes rushed towards the end of the book. As the book started off with such a lovely pace and information drops slowly it was a shame to feel like the author rushed to the end in order to tie everything together.

I loved the romance and that it wasn’t a driving plot device but slowly developed as an under current, and I loved the two sisters connecting more and more and finding that deeper relationship. Aunt Bean was delightful and I was happy every moment that she was in the book because the lightest that came from her was great to read.

I probably wouldn’t read again, and unsure if I would recommend other than as a light read that you don’t think too much about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for letting me have an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heather Webber seamlessly converges the ordinary with the extraordinary!

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, In the Middle of Hickory Lane and At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities have been five-star reads for me because Webber has given me an opportunity to see the world from a fresh perspective and I appreciate her real-world settings which she elevates with an undercurrent of magic.

I loved my visit to Starlight, Alabama and was easily caught up in the struggles of the Fullbright women as they pondered the fate of the bakery.

I felt encouraged and inspired by the Fullbright women who use their gift of seeing the bright sides by bringing light and happiness to others. It’s easy for the weight of life to burden us and cause us to focus on the darkness of our shadow and feel like a failure at times. Addie showed me the value of finding a way back to the light, the necessity of ‘going home’, the importance I need to place on returning to who I used to be, and in looking for the magic in trusting myself.

I loved the mystery surrounding starlight field and the tension created over the ownership of it as much as I loved reading about the Sugarbirds and the Starling Cake Company. I smiled at the references to ‘heart dropsy’ and Sweetie, the pea-green 1951 Ford pickup and my heart ached for Aunt Bean and her dilemma. The chapter openings featuring “From the kitchen of Verbena Fullbright” were a welcome addition.

Heather Webber is an auto-read author for me and I can’t wait for her next book!

I was gifted this copy by Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I am an absolute sucker for all things involving sister relationships, found family, and well, let's be honest - baked goods. Webber does all of that so well in her book. I adore the dual POV as these sisters navigate the secrets of their past, their present, and hope towards the future. Highly recommend if you like any of these things. I did find it a little slow at parts, but over all it was a great read that will stick with me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Heather Webber, and the publishers for this book. See more of my review on instagram @bookish_starry_skies

"...They know their stronger if they stick together rather than try to face hard times alone."

I really love Heather Webber's books. They are comfy, sweet, and always have a happy (enough) ending.

A Certain Kind of Starlight follows her template for writing a novel:
A previous death/massive tragedy in the family
At least 2 strong female leads
Tourist attracted, whimsical southern town setting
Magical realism powers that sometimes run in the family
(Magical?) Baked goods

The magical realism in this book seemed to be a little stronger than in her other books. If you are looking for a real-life fantasy, this one's for you.

What I Liked:
I love the family drama and all the connections. I like the ties to tradition and family heritage. Tessa Jane was a little obsessed with her great uncle’s (I think he was?) journal. It’s cool to see her family history play into her everyday life and affect some of her actions.

I feel like this novel is a little more poignant in the emotional department. Her other novels feel like beach reads to me. The characters feel real and deal with real issues but this one (for some reason) just feels more mature and deep. This book touches on domestic violence, infidelity, death, sickness, and broken families. BUT it isn’t heavy. It hits the spot (emotionally) but won’t leave you depressed for weeks.

This quote: “...but even though, yes, I knew others had it worse, that knowledge didn’t magically heal me. It only made me feel guilty on top of brokenhearted.” I felt that. I feel like that is a very common feeling, especially in America where so many are so blessed.

ANIMALS! All the pets were such a cute and fun detail. The pets actually added to the plot and weren't just there as side characters.

The baking: All the ladies in this book were bakers and baking ran in the family. It was so cute to read about a bunch of ladies baking and dancing together. It also made me want to eat cake, readers beware. I very much wish Starling Cake Company was real and took online orders.

What I Didn't Like:
The nods at pop culture: the Sam Smith song being Addie's ringtone? Ugh.

The family tree in this book was a little hard to follow. If I could have a visual family tree that would have been very helpful. There are a lot of characters to keep track of. Near the end, I was following but for a moment, I was lost.

I’m reading this alongside the lights of Sugar Berry Cove and that was a massive mistake. These books have VERY similar characters, themes, and even plot points. I love Heather, don’t get me wrong. But the more I read her books the more I feel like she’s kind of copying and pasting and then changing a few details.

Also, the environment in which this novel takes place plays heavily into the plot and I don't feel like there was enough time dedicated to describing the town itself. I had a faint idea of what the town looked like/the layout. In her previous works, the setting also helps with the "comfort" of the book. Like, Heather's novels are known for their comforting, familiar, and loving plots and atmospheres. This book didn't have that same pull as some of her others. The plot is very comforting (along with the characters and BAKING!!!) but it just didn't feel as strong as some of her other novels.

Overall, this is a great addition to Heather's works. I love her novels and can't wait to see what other stories she will create.

If you love magical realism like I do this is the book for you. Set in small town Alabama, which is famous for the Starlight Crater, half sisters Tessa Jane and Addie return home to stay with their Aunt Bean who runs the Starling Cake Co. Addie is struggling with a secret she has kept for years. Tessa Jane is trying to find her lightness after a bad breakup and family pressures that are weighing on her. This has such sweet, small town characters and it makes you feel like you are a part of the family. I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.

This book is classic Heather Webber! I love that you feel like you’re stepping into the characters’ lives and living the snippets. A Certain Kind of Starlight is an easy, good read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I love the way Heather Webber weaves magical realism into a beautiful, relatable story. I might be guilty of stalking her on social media, then rushing to request her newest book as soon as it’s available on NetGalley.

While I enjoyed this one, something about it didn’t click for me as well as her others.

The beginning is a flood of characters, all with tangled relationships. Keeping them straight was a bit of a chore. Then the story took on a bit of a soap opera vibe. I wasn’t nearly as invested in the characters as I normally am with her books. I can’t really explain why.

The final third is when things finally started clicking for me, and I started to feel the magic.

While not my favorite, I still recommend giving this one a try.

A story about the true deep bonds of family run deeper then blood.
Reminiscent in different ways of Webber’s previous magical realism novels Blackbird Cafe , The Coffee shop of curiosities and In the middle of Hickory Lane.
A great relaxing read which takes place in southern US . The beginning is a slow burn but as we get further into the story — all the towns families and their drama start to come together . I could personally relate to the storyline of family secrets and enjoyed the outcome though bittersweet in many ways . The second half of the book really flew by for me as I became more invested in the characters and their bonds with each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor/Forge for this ARC . This is my honest review .

X♾️
Aunt Bean has asked her nieces to come home to Starlight, Alabama. She needs help. She is feeling unwell and is going to the doctors to find out what is wrong. She owns the Starling Cake Company and the land that houses a meteor Crater. At night the crater gives off a special starlight Aurora.

Addie lives in Birmingham and is a famous voice actor. She's been hiding from her family and friends. She has a secret and she's afraid of revealing it.

Tessa Jane is Addie's half sister. She's also a Fulbright. Her granddaddy has been trying to get his hands on the Starlight land. Her fiancee recently left her at the altar. On her 25th birthday she has to decide if she wants to keep the land or sell it.

There are a lot of secrets in the town and the family. I loved Aunt Bean and the sugar birds. I loved how each chapter had a little tip on how to bake. I laughed and cried in this book. The author did another fantastic job.

This was my first Heather Webber book and I'm just not convinced she's the author for me! I loved the cosy, small town setting, especially the bakery and all the divine cake descriptions. But I found the constant emotional drama of the main characters really tiring, especially when so much of the plot was due to people keeping secrets from each other. Overall it's a very readable book that will surely have many fans, it just wasn't my style.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the.opportunity to read A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber, an author who never disappoints. I read this straight through in one sitting and was sad to finish.

Addie, Tessa Jane, Aunt Bean, the sugar birds and every other wonderful character in a Certain Kind of Starlight are absolutely charming. Heather Webber has a real gift for making the good hearts huge and the baddies stck out like sore thumbs. I am grateful I never have to guess who I'm supposed to cheer for in her books

I absolutely loved this book! Filled with the author's usual blend of Southern Charm, magic, family relationships, friendship and romance. A joyful read, with excellent character development, descriptive settings and a perfect pace.

Addie and Tessa Jane have never acted as sisters. When Aunt Bean calls them to her house due to a health emergency they work together and learn about their history. ARC from Net Galley.