This book is a beautifully written and emotional. I actually ended up renting it from my library in hard copy to read. From the very first page, I was captivated by the delicate prose and vivid characters. The author’s ability to weave complex emotions into such a poignant narrative kept me hooked throughout. The characters felt incredibly real to me, with their flaws and complexities making them relatable and human. I particularly appreciated how Denny tackled grief and healing with such sensitivity. I loved the novel’s slow burn. Overall, I enjoyed All the Painted Stars. I would recommend it to some other friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I’m a simple girl - give me a sapphic period romance and I’m happy - 3.5 stars rounded up. All The Painted Stars was charming and cozy - the stakes were never high, but they got a little lost in the middle. While I loved the cozy vibes of the brewery, the main conflict felt like it was all but forgotten until the very end where it was hastily concluded.

I didn’t realize until I finished this book that it was the second in a series, so I don’t think reading the first is necessary to enjoy this one! There will be some nods or background you miss out on by skipping the first, but it’s not required to understand this one.

The writing is a bit of a mixed bag but I expected it from the author's previous book. Sometimes too modern, sometimes sounding a bit more appropriate but ultimately dry. It's clear that the author loves the medieval period and it really liked what she made of it by wanting to represent the brewery and strong relationships between women.

The Knight tournament part was really fun but once that was done the book had no plot just vibes and chilling. I understand needing to build up the relationship between the main characters by having them interact outside of a monitored environment but that is the fun part of courtly love between the knight and the lady.

Despite the author' best efforts the romance wasn't really there? It felt distant but I didn't get attached to the MCs either so a fail on this part.

Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely adorable! I loved the characters, especially Lily. Tender and romantic, but also with great action and jousting scenes, this book has a little something for everyone!

It very much reminded me of A knights Tale, but with a sapphic twist. This is a definite recommend and now I am off to devour everything Emma Denny has ever written!

I absolutely love when a character has to be in disguise! I am trying to get more into medieval stories because I used to love them as a young teen, and I haven't read enough lately.. Overall, I would say this book was an enjoyable historical queer romance.

A sweet sequel! I appreciated that, even though these characters had an easy resolution before them, Denny did not stoop to compromise. Jo unequivocally chooses love and Lily gets to know that she is chosen and loved above comfort or obligation. They don't take the easy way out, just like we shouldn't have to.

thanks to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for a review!

this was so fluffy and sweet, and the yearning between Lily and Jo was so well done and fun to read. normally a straight historical book with no fantasy elements isn't really something i'd be into, but this was such a pleasant surprise that i enjoyed it.

I liked this more than the prequel, simply because who doesn't love a undercover lady knight in a tourney trope! I am glad Lily got her own arc, and Jo's character got a bit more fleshed out along with some of the side characters in her family. That said, the overall narrative and pacing felt a bit too sluggish both in terms of plot and earned romance. Too much telling, not enough showing. Sweet but ultimately kinda forgettable.

All the Painted Stars was so charming. It feels like a combination of my favorite elements of A Knight's Tale and The Princess Bride. We've got jousting, an outsider pretending to be a knight, a runaway bride, an elaborate rescue attempt that doesn't go to plan, a woman in armor, and sapphic friends-to-lovers.

The jousting and court life occupies the first half of the book, in which Johanna de Foucourt's family arranges a tournament to solidify her younger brother's position as earl and also conveniently scope out possible suitors for Jo. She despairingly mentions these pending marriage arrangements in a letter to her friend Lily Barden, whose immediate response is to steal her brother's old armor, cut off her hair Mulan-style, and enter the tournament disguised as a wandering knight. Lily hopes that, even if she can't win the tournament (and Jo's hand) outright, she can at least beat enough of the potential suitors in the tournament to give Jo an out.

That plan quickly goes awry, leading Jo and Lily to flee the keep on night in the middle of the tournament, taking shelter at a brewery some distance away. The second half at the brewery is extremely cozy fantasy, giving the women space to explore futures of their own choosing and freedoms they never imagined themselves. The self-discovery (including a queer awakening) is especially heartwarming. The third act conflict reminds me most of The Princess Bride, managing to somehow be both comically melodramatic and low-stakes. An absolute delight.

This one was alright. It was cute but I don’t think I would revisit this again. I just wanted more and I feel that it didn’t fully deliver.

The first thing I thought when I saw this book is that I love that there are more queer historical romances.
This book in particular is adorable, low angst, two friends who love each other and one who becomes a knight in shiny armor to be together. I liked it a lot.

This book was fun, a nice twist on the historical trope of a knight fighting in a tournament for a maiden’s hand, and had some very lovely queer rep. At times, the writing felt like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be written with a modern feel or be truly historical in nature, and that plus a heavy necessity for suspension of disbelief for some more outlandish scenes took me out of the story more than a few times. That being said, the story was cute and the ending was sweet. I wouldn’t reread it or go chasing down the author’s other works, but a fine enough read. 3 ⭐️!

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I liked this, but was envisioning more of a sapphic Knight’s Tale and got cozy “let’s become brewers together” vibes. Loved the found family element, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. Honey Witch vibes but without magic?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

First off, All the Painted Stars is the kind of book that feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a chilly day—cozy, heartfelt, and a touch bittersweet. Emma Denny writes her characters with so much tenderness and care that it’s impossible not to root for them from the very first page. Lily and Jo? Absolute gems. Their connection radiates off the page, and their love feels as natural as breathing.

The premise immediately hooked me: a medieval tournament, a daring disguise, and a woman risking it all to save her best friend? Yes, please! Lily’s transformation into a would-be knight was not only entertaining but also deeply endearing. Her fierce determination to protect Jo showed how far love—and maybe a bit of stubbornness—can take you. And Jo? She’s the grounding force in the whirlwind of Lily’s antics, her strength and kindness balancing out Lily’s reckless energy. Together, they’re pure magic.

Favorite moments? Oh, let’s dish! The whole tournament scene had me absolutely hooked. Watching Lily fumble (but fiercely!) as a knight was equal parts hilarious and nerve-wracking. And when things went sideways and Jo had to step in? Chef’s kiss. The vulnerability in their lakeside conversations later—hidden away from the world—was swoon-worthy. It’s those quiet, stolen moments that make their love story so believable.

The themes of choice and sacrifice really stood out. Both women are faced with impossible decisions—Lily with her impulsivity and Jo with the weight of her past. Their journey to figure out if love is worth the sacrifices demanded of them was emotionally satisfying, even if it tugged at my heartstrings.

I also appreciated the nuanced portrayal of 14th-century life. The setting felt rich and alive, from the oppressive atmosphere of the tournament to the peaceful simplicity of their life with the brewster. Denny weaves history into her storytelling effortlessly, without bogging down the narrative.

Final verdict? All the Painted Stars is a heartfelt, warm read perfect for anyone who loves strong female leads, slow-burn romance, and a touch of medieval adventure. I have no notes—other than to demand more from Emma Denny. If this is what she can do, I’ll gladly follow her to wherever her stories take me next.

I love the world that Emma Denny has created. Her characters, her historical accuracy, the variety of tropes and storylines. I will read anything she puts out in this series.

I made sure to read the first in the series before starting this one, and I’m impressed by how well All the Painted Stars managed to avoid the second-book slump of so many series.

Lily and Jo sparkled from the first page, just like the stars on Lily’s battered old shield. I enjoyed the slow build to the romance that gave both characters room to figure out not just who they wanted to love, but also who they wanted to be themselves. I’m also a sucker for a good tournament story with an underdog, so this story felt like a sapphic version of A Knight’s Tale with a beautiful found family reunion in the end. A solid 4.5 stars (all painted, of course)!

Having not read the first book in the series, I found that it was very easy to know what was going on. There were a few times that I knew I was missing a little bit of context, but not enough to detract from the overall book. I wish the slow burn wasn't as long as it was, but can see how anything else may not have worked with the story.

My opinion of Hartswood went up as I read from a slightly slow start, and this book kept it through the whole way. That could possibly just be because I am biased toward sapphic romances that I'm a little more patient with the set up, but I think it also was Denny finding their stride with this follow up. I adored watching different pieces fall together and being like !!!! I knew it!!! I think this book is not only an incredible expansion of the families and world of Hartswood but just a wonderful work from Denny, and has made me into a loyal reader, excited for whatever comes next.

This was a fun sapphic romance placed in one of my favorite settings: Medieval England. There's knights and lords and ladies and a tournament, as well as a small town family running a brewery. It has found family and real family good vibes.

I didn't read the first book and didn't really feel like I needed to to enjoy the story.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Tamora Pierce books as a kid and grew up to be queer.

This was a sweet story. I loved the set up and the historical location/time period and how the author made the realities of being a woman in the Middle Ages so clear. I was rooting for both women from the very beginning and loved how they evolved.