In the face of hardship, two women return to their hometown of Starling, Alabama when their beloved Aunt’s health starts to fail. Amidst family, small town charm and secrets, the two women learn that believing in themselves, opening their heart, and trusting the magic of family they can rise stronger.

I love Webber’s ability to capture the heart of a small southern town and the strength of family, which have been themes in both the books I have read of hers. I adore her use of magical realism and the symbolism of the birds. I consumed this book on audio. While I loved the southern drawl, and was pleased initially to see two narrators, I found that the voices were at times too similar, the cast of characters pretty large and a lot going on that I sometimes struggled keeping track. This is the perfect book for those that enjoy small town hallmark style books and I feel would be best enjoyed with an immersive experience with both a book and audio to best capture the southern charm.

The premise of this novel is a secret that, if told, would be catastrophic. So Addie has no choice but to leave town for 12 years. Seriously? There are secrets galore in this story: Not just “the big one,” but also dozens of others we learn about over the course of about a month.

Families can be challenging and, in this southern town, almost clannish. Addie returns to town, lips sealed, because of scary medical news from an aging relative. At the same time, her estranged half-sister also makes the trip and they are forced to confront their unstated notions about each other. And since it’s 12 years later, the boys they knew and crushed on are now men. And there are a couple of dogs involved too.

If you like family stories with quirky characters, hints of romance, and grand gestures, this is for you. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. The “starlight” referenced throughout may have been something that fell from the sky, but this is not a sci-fi or fantasy book.

The audiobook is well narrated and it was usually easy to tell the sisters’ chapters apart. The best parts of the book for me were the baking tips thrown in between chapters and the descriptions of delicious cakes and desserts. There is a bakery involved, which may explain the overall sweetness of the story!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for an advance copy of the audiobook for review purposes.

ddie Fullbright left Starlight 12 years ago leaving behind her family and the man she loved so she wouldn't reveal her best friend's deathbed secret. Now she's back because her beloved aunt is ill and needs help running the family bakery. She's also facing her half sister Tessa Jane, whose existence is the reason her parents' marriage ended. Together after so many years, Tessa Jane and Addie finally learn that there is truly magic in the land that they share (and will inherit together on Tessa Jane's 25th birthday which will occur while Addie is home) and in the their relationship - and it may be enough to keep them both in Starlight and building something wonderful together.

For me, this rang very much like a Sarah Addison Allen novel - it mixed food and magical realism and for me if you mix those two elements I am absolutely going to read it. Honestly it didn't quite pull me in as much as an Allen book but it was still a cute and sweet read. I think however, I was looking for a bit more, I didn't feel that I got to know any one character on a deeper level since there were so many POVs and storylines there wasn't an opportunity to get too deep into any one of them. I would have liked a bit more complexity in the story and in the characters themselves. However it still kept me entertained and the audio was great to listen to, especially while cooking.

3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC to review

"A Certain Kind of Starlight" is another magical, heartwarming novel from Heather Webber.
Addie has been avoiding her hometown for 12 years. She finally returns home, as her aunt needs her help dealing with what could be a life altering health diagnosis.
She's thrown in with her half sister Tessa, whom she's always avoided, in deference to her mother's feelings and a whole other cast of sweet wonderful friends and family.
Small time characters, some secrets... some romance.. and a little bit of magic... everything I look for in Webber's wonderful books.

<spoiler>This was the only part I didn't care for- the secret? the big secret Addie had been hiding. It was all for nothing. Everyone already knew. She basically tied herself in emotional knots for nothing. And then she just moved on from it. I was probably more angry than she was.

Addie and Tessa Jane are half-sisters, but they barely know each other. Kept apart by the manipulations of others, they are both called back to Starlight when their Aunt Bean's health worsens. Connected by the amazing Starlight field, a field created by a fallen star that glows with its own special auroras in the evening, Tessa Jane and Addie begin to connect. But secrets and a manipulative relative who wants the field for himself threaten to drive both of them away from Starlight once again, and for good.

I just love Heather Webber's books. I adore small-town fiction, and that little touch of magic she throws in just adds that special ingredient to make the story even more fascinating. This one was no exception. The entire cast of characters comes alive, and I felt like a part of this town. As an added treat, a flock of starlings becomes an important character itself. There are sweet romances and lessons learned throughout the book. Each chapter is headed by baking tips from Aunt Verbena, who owns the town bakery. This is a story filled with heartache and disappointment, but also love. It is a lesson about family, and what makes a real family. It is a lesson about people, and how some can surprise, and others disappoint and even harm, whether they are related to you or not. I loved every bit of this magical story, and I can't wait to read her next one.

The narrators did a great job of conveying all the emotions and portraying the varied characters in this special town.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This was a really cute, heart warming story. It really felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie. This story made me feel like the way Legends and Lattes or House on the Cerulean Sea made me feel. I liked the elements of magical realism in this book. It made it more than just a romance/drama. There were a lot of coincidences in this story, but the fact that it takes place in a small town makes the coincidences somewhat more believable. I liked the two female protagonists. I appreciated their differences and similarities. I also loved Aunt Bean’s character. This book made me wish she was my aunt. This book is a bit long but it kind of makes sense since I was reading about two different main characters & their individual storylines. Overall, this was a light, feel-good story and I enjoyed it.

A Certain Kind of Starlight is a story full of magical realism and small town Southern charm. It's so easy to love Addie and Tessa Jane and I was fully invested as they navigated family struggles, heartbreak, and second chances. The story revolves around these two characters getting back to their roots with a little help from their Aunt Bean (whose baking advice at the very beginning of each chapter is so sweet and entertaining). There are a few antagonists that bring about twists of drama, as well as several lovable side characters that are full of good advice, banter, and sisterhood. I especially enjoyed the air of mystery that was woven throughout the storyline and I am *still* thinking about the final chapter days later.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

“A Certain Kind of Starlight” by Heather Webber reads exactly like a Hallmark movie in the very best way. This is not simply because of the setting of a small town, with a loving cast of characters. Webber’s whimsical writing style is the aspect that most creates this.

However, everything in this story is not picture perfect, like a Hallmark movie. Small towns have secrets, and sisters Addie and Tessa Jane have their own. I felt myself very drawn into Webber’s novel. I was eager to keep reading, and to spend more time with the main characters.

My biggest complaint is that I felt there were too many characters. Too many plot points. I do think the amount of characters and plot points is accurate for small town life. However, it made it somewhat difficult to follow. I easily forgot which characters were who. It was also very easy to forget which point of view was taking place. I believe this is particularly true as I am listening to the audiobook.

This was so emotional and beautiful. I couldn't put it down because it made me calm and felt like a warm hug.
Perfect narrator also. I can't resist a story of two sisters or a strong bond between women of a family or community. Loved the tiny interludes with life lessons taught through baking recipe bits. Very well balanced, switching Povs from sister to sister, as we read along and through their troubles, fears, and anxieties. My favorite part was when one discovers a family secret and needs to navigate it and understand the real meaning of being a family.
They find strength, truth, and love in being together, standing for themselves, and helping others. Great touch with the cakes, the food, the dogs, and their love for life bits.
Thank you publisher and netgalley for the audiobook.