I absolutely loved this story! I think this is Rachel Hauck at her finest! The dual-timeline really told a beautiful story of family, love, and faith. I loved the characters, the setting, and the writing was just phenomenal. Highly highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sweet, heartwarming story about a roller skating rink and the community around it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

This was one of those cozy reads in which the conflicts don't keep you awake at night. I found the characters to be lovable, especially Harlow with her struggles. It was entirely predictable, which was fine, but doesn't keep me turning the pages at a quick rate. Overall, if you're into Christian Romance, this would probably work for you.

A dual time love story, in times that aren't often represented in fiction?! Ok Ms Hauck, I see you!!! I particularly enjoyed the parts that were set in the 1930s. That's when my grandparents were born and they are gone now so it was neat to get a glimpse into what life maybe was like for them growing up!

A dual timeline story set around a small coastal town and a roller skating rink. When a woman named Tuesday finds herself owner of the Starlight in the past, and struggles through the 80s to try to save it from destruction. Add a famous actor and model into the mix and a helpful community and you get more than just a story about saving a roller rink.

I love Rachel Hauck's characters, she always amazing characters and their life's journeys. This story story was told beautifully and I didn't have a hard time keeping up with the timelines or characters. Which I normally do if there are too many to follow. The only thing I didn't like were the characters that interacted with the model. There was a lot of body shaming going on, which unfortunately happens all lot even now a days.

Thank you to Bethany House and #netgalley for a copy of this book to read, all thoughts are my own.

A cute and charming read, MEET ME AT THE STARLIGHT is one of those books that takes a bit to get into but picks up in the final half. I thought the story was wholesome and sweet- kind of like a Hallmark movie.
This was the first time I'd read anything by this author but she seems to have a pretty extensive and impressive backlist that I might have to look into.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for access to the e-book in exchange for an honest review.

3

The back cover copy about Meet Me at the Starlight intrigued me. Trusting Rachel Hauck as an excellent writer, I decided to give it a read and I highly recommend you do the same.

This laid back split-time novel centers around historical roller rink, The Starlight. In the 1930s section of the novel, Tuesday receives the venue as a gift from her husband. But she can’t fully trust the gesture. Unfortunately he’s as full of shady business ventures as Tuesday is longing for a stable life.

In the 1980’s, supermodel Harlow Hayes trades media scrutiny for quiet solace in the same town as Tuesday’s nephew, A list actor Matt Knight. He’s trying to change his bad boy image by leaping Tuesday save the now-threatened rink.

I loved the setting, the way Hauck transports readers to each era effortlessly, the different but parallel stories and the characters. Tuesday Knight shines through in both eras as a strong compassion filled leader, determined to make a difference no matter the odds. Both Matt and Harlow have healing and growing to do and the circumstances that allow the growth are skillfully delivered by a clever plot.

The feel of the story. The hope Tuesday brings to very page. The deft touch of faith in adversity make this a wonderful read. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of Meet Me at the Starlight from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading/listening to Meet Me at the Starlight! I loved the 80's chapters simply because that's when I was a teenager and I spent many a Friday night at our local skating rink. I also loved the setting of Sea Blue Beach since it's "located" just a couple hours down the road from me and it mentions Eglin AFB and other towns in that area. I enjoyed watching Harlow and Matt figure out their lives and come together. All in all, another great book from Rachel Hauck!

5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed others so much more.
1🌟 = I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 2 July 2024

I enjoyed this so much! I loved the dual timelines and following Tuesday’s lifelong journey with the Starlight. There were so many heartbreaking moments, but this story is also filled with hope and characters who show amazing resilience. I loved Matt and Harlow’s storyline. Give me a man who falls first any day! Harlow showed such wonderful growth as a woman facing the pressures of the modeling world and dealing with body image. I was rooting for her and the way she took her life back on her terms was the best part of the story. I thought the ending was expertly done and so satisfying. I highly recommend this for people who love nostalgic, heartwarming reads!

Thank you to Bethany house for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

What a unique book! I personally haven’t read very many books set in the 80s, and I really enjoyed that. There were also some sections set in the 30s & 40s, and even though WWII was mentioned and played a part in Tuesday’s life & family, the focus wasn’t on the war itself. Which was also unique & a good change of pace when there are so many WWII books out there. Tuesday went through a lot in those 50ish years.
Matt & Harlow were also great characters. I loved how each of them made progress confronting their own issues, and how easy & natural their relationship together was.
Another unique aspect was the Starlight itself- a focus on a skating rink & how it played such a central role in Tuesday’s life and in the town of Sea Blue Beach.

I received a free copy and this review is completely my own.
I have loved Rachel's Haucks books and this one was a little hard to follow and didn't capture my interest.
I may try to reread it later.

I loved this story! It was one of those feel-good stories where all the characters matter and you enjoy learning their backstory and how everything ends for each of them. This wasn’t a hurried read for me, but one I felt I could set aside and pick up at any moment and immerse myself into easily. I’ve enjoyed Rachel’s other books, and this is definitely one of my top favorites of hers. The throwback to roller-skating and all of those 80’s references was also great!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Meet Me at theStarlight by Rachel Hauk follows the family of Tuesday Knight in dual timelines between the 1930’s and 1980’s. We watch Tuesday Knight’s family as they grow-up, figure out life and become who they were created to be.

I enjoyed how this story flowed seamlessly between different times. The characters were very engaging and I was so invested in seeing what happened to the Starlight. The author excels at mixing humor with deeper themes and pointing you back to Immanuel. It was pleasure to spend time in the coastal town of Sea Blue Beach, make many new friends, and be surprised at the ending.

Watching the characters transform, trying to solve the mystery and spending time roller skating to 70’s tunes made this an incredible story for me. I highly recommend Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauk.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Harlow Hayes, is a supermodel and she needs time away. She needs a safe place to regroup. She finds herself in a beautiful, seaside town in Florida and immediately starts to decompress. Matt Knight, is an A list actor who is also spending some down time in this seaside town. Both are there to hide from their problems but the town seems to take them in and help heal old wounds. Matt is back home, and his grandmother and father welcome him back with open arms. His grandmother, Tuesday, needs help with her roller skating rink and Matt jumps right in. The skating rink has been there forever and an investment group wants to come in and tear it down, for housing.
Tuesday was given The Starlight from her husband. She never knew how he got possession of it and she at k e time had the paperwork but can’t find it. She needs it now, to prove she owns it. She has all the things going against her but her family and the town rally to keep The Starlight open.
This was a very sweet story about family, loss and community. It also reminds us that while being a super model and a famous actor, comes with problems. That they are t exempt from struggles and real life. It is a dual timeline story and I love how the author built upon the story by going back and forth in time. I really enjoyed how honest the characters were portrayed. Rachel Hauck did a great job, bringing this story to life. I love a good summer read and Meet Me at the Starlight is just that. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book. At times like these a town, pulling together for the greater good , is so heartwarming.

Very enjoyable! I'm always super impressed with Rachel's ability to take two unique stories with distinctive timelines and blend them into one well-crafted novel. I loved the characters, especially the female protagonists. Their courage, resilience, and determination shine through.

The romance in Meet Me at the Starlight is delightful. I liked how the heartwarming and poignant relationships were portrayed between the genuine, flawed characters. An iconic roller rink setting adds a unique charm, which provoked lots of nostalgia for me. It's sort of whimsical, which only added to the reading experience.

Hauck's use of light, art, and dialog to point readers to the hope we have in God is subtle yet makes a big impact. That's not an easy theme to work into a novel and she made it look effortless. Nicely done, Rachel!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I love reading Rachel Hauck books and this one is just so good!

It's a dual timeline story - set in the 1930's where we meet Tuesday, the owner of the Starlight bowling rink in a small Florida town. Her husband is in and out of the picture as she's raising their two sons. Then there is a dual story set in 1980's with former model and a movie star in town and how they try to save the Starlight from being demolished. It's a beautiful story, both timelines have incredible stories and characters. I love the idea of a story set in a skating rink and how important the Starlight is to the town.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This fun story is told over three time periods; the 1930/40's and the 1980's. In the 70's and 80's I practically lived at the roller skating rink. In my mind's eye, I can see my dad dropping me off at 6:30pm and picking me back up at 12:00am every Friday and Saturday night. Spending those hours at the skating rink in my painter's pants, and school t-shirt, and skating to songs like Shadow Dancing, Boogie Oogie Oogie, and Three Times a Lady; I felt like a grown-up for those few hours each week.

Rachel Hauck brings that period back through the pages of this story full-force. While the story centers around the rink it's not the main story. It's about Tuesday Knight, such a cool name, and the prince who set up the Starlight. It's also about a sweet romance between Matt and Harlow. While all of that is fun and wonderful its main story point is not about a shipwrecked prince who created the Starlight and trying to save it, it's about knowing who the real Prince of Peace that we all need.

Bottom Line: Get ready to go back in time to Friday and Saturday night skate nights and experience that time in your life in a new way. Turn up your radio listen to the music of that time and skate down memory lane. This was the most fun I've had reading in a long time.

I purchased a copy.

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: July 2, 2024
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: fiction, romance, Christian fiction, historical fiction

✨𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀✨
• multi-POV
• 80s setting
• disordered eating
• Christian

I spent years going to the rink three to four times a week with my kids so I loved reading this book about the Starlight Roller Rink. What a fun setting for this book. I love books about small towns where people help each other out and care for each other. I enjoyed the witty banter between Harlow and Matt. I liked that the book had a lengthy wrap up that finished all the story lines. These were my favorite parts of the book.

I am not a fan of dual or split timeline books as a rule. I think it's hard to make both halves equally interesting. I found that to be the case with this book. I enjoyed the storyline in the present but felt a lot of the past storyline was unnecessary to the book. A few pertinent things could have been shared in a different way.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I went into Meet Me at the Starlight completely blind to the author's backlist, the story synopsis, and the genre, which I was later shocked to discover its classification as Christian Fiction. Ultimately, I'm glad I read the novel without any preconceived notions or expectations, and I feel as if it benefited my reading experience. In all honesty, I'm not sure I would have ever even picked up the book if I had known it was technically Christian Fiction; but thankfully I did, and thankfully the religious aspects were kept to a minimum.

One of the highlights of the novel for me was the dual timeline structure, and its execution. I was particularly invested in Tuesday's story, detailing her journey to own and manage the Starlight. As a character, Tuesday's resilience and compassion, despite the many challenges she faced, made me root for her to find a happy ending. Conversely, the present-day storyline involving supermodel Harlow Hayes didn't quite capture my interest as much. Although their efforts to save the Starlight eventually won me over in the latter half of the book, their initial journey felt less compelling and I found myself inadvertently skimming parts of their timeline. Additionally, I wasn't a huge fan of Harlow's prolonged self-pity and self-victimization. Her overbearing mother and passive father added to her portrayal as an overly dependent and immature adult, and when juxtaposed with Tuesday's character, it only made me dislike Harlowe more.

The first half of the book was a struggle for me, but the story picked up significantly in the second half as the characters banded together to save the Starlight. This part of the story made the Starlight come alive as a charming and beloved place, almost tangibly jumping off the page.

Thank you to the publisher via BookInfluencers.com & NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Huack in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties.