***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC***

I read this one within a day. I was invested from the first few pages and was genuinely curious about how the interwoven stories would tie together in the end. If you think you know, you don’t. Each character was intriguing for different reasons. I loved the fact that Lucy was a therapist. As a former therapist, her character was written well and her depiction as a therapist with both her “professional speak”, conversation and way of relating rang true to me. Nothing is more annoying than reading a novel or watching a show depicting a therapist whereby I spend the entire time thinking that, “this would never happen”. There were aspects of the storyline that were almost too far-fetched for me but I chose to play along. Solid 4.5 stars. This was a quick read but that doesn’t mean that it lacks depth. There was depth and this is certainly worth the read.

BOOK: We Are Made of Stars
AUTHOR: Rochelle B. Weinstein
PUB DATE: TODAY!! February 25, 2025, by Lake Union Publishing
PAGES: 363
RATING: 5 stars
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction

A H U G E Thank You to @netgalley, @LakeUnionPublishing, and the author for gifting me an advanced digital in exchange for my honest review!

MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Henry’s describing the universe as a metaphor for life, how we’re all made of stars and an energy that pulls us near and far, how the final frontier means possibility, facing the unknown.”

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: I devoured this advanced reader’s copy just as I would have devoured the delectable, 4-course daily menus mentioned at the beginning of chapters! I appreciated the world-building of the characters as well as the author’s descriptive writing style. This one will tug at your heartstrings as it focuses on love and family. This was my first book by Rochelle B. Weinstein, and it won’t be the last. It was captivating from beginning to end!

Thank you @getredprbooks @lakeunionpublishing @netgalley and @rochellebweinstein
for the #gifted book.

"The stars are dreams and goals, and the constellations are the connections that shape our story."

WE ARE MADE OF STARS is a beautifully written character driven story that took place over one week at the Vis Ta Vie Inn - "Live Your Life". Told in multiple POV we get to know each of the characters. There are secrets, lies, betrays and each is struggling with relationships. I was invested in these characters as they became friends and found family and loved how their lives intertwined at the end.

Each day is started by the menu for the day. The Inn is a place I would like to visit. The food, the beautiful mountain hikes, waterfalls and quiet starry nights. This book gave me all the feels and the shocking twists kept me turning the pages. I didn't want this story to end because I wanted to spend more time with these characters. WE ARE MADE OF STARS has become my favorite book by Rochelle. If you like character driven stories filled with heartbreak and drama, then you will live WE ARE MADE OF STARS.

This is a well written literary novel that puts 8 people together in an inn for one week, all of whom have secrets and all of whom are good people trying to do better despite the challenges life throws at them. It is enjoyable and fast paced and I recommend it for fans of the White Lotus (although these characters are much better behaved!). Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

White Lotus meets Nine Perfect Strangers, this novel focuses on the complexity of relationships - between partners, between friends, between family.

In a week at a beautiful b&b (named Vis Ta Vie) in mountains of North Carolina, secrets are exposed, revelations come forward, and the lives of ten people are changed forever.

Rochelle perfectly captures what it means to be human. All of the characters are flawed, but working towards being the best version of themselves. The pacing is just right, with each perspective switch giving you a further glance “behind the curtain” and into the characters’ hearts.

Vis Ta Vie―live your life―captures what it means to love through the darkness, and to find the light even after the magic fades.

I love a story with a large cast of characters and I also love foodie fiction and this had both, a total win for me! Despite so many characters each one had a distinct voice and was very well developed, some I loved some not so much but they all felt authentic and well drawn. The inn itself sounded so quaint and charming and the food descriptions made me wanna head there asap, everything sounded incredible. This is quite the mix of genres, there’s something for everyone and my favorite part was the mystery element as you realized just about everyone is protecting a secret. There were so many shocking surprises, I love a juicy secret, so this was a blast! Try this if you like family drama, sordid secrets and excellent writing.

I love Rochelle Weinstein books and this one is a 5-star read. So many twists and turns that I absolutely loved.

Rochelle B. Weinstein writes beautifully. For me, there were a few too many storylines in this one and I didn't feel like they were distinct enough. There is weight to the stories and while I didn't necessarily feel like I got to know each of the characters as much as I liked, I thought they were interesting.

In her latest novel, "We Are Made of Star", Rochelle B. Weinstein takes us to the picturesque mountain retreat of the Vis Ta Vie Inn, run by Reneé and Jean-Paul De La Rue. The couple faces the difficult decision of permanently closing their beloved bed and breakfast. Over a pivotal week, the inn hosts three couples in crisis and a single mother with her teenage daughter, each struggling with their personal challenges.
Weinstein explores themes of love, loss, betrayal, and second chances. Each character embarks on a journey of self-discovery, highlighting how relationships can evolve and heal through understanding and forgiveness.

The characters are crafted with depth and authenticity. Their stories intertwine organically, creating a rich and engaging narrative. Weinstein's writing is fluid and captivating, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to the heart of the North Carolina mountains. The third-person perspective provides a comprehensive view of the interpersonal dynamics, allowing readers to connect emotionally with each character.

"We Are Made of Stars" is a novel that sensitively explores the complexities of human relationships and personal struggles. Rochelle B. Weinstein delivers a compelling story that invites reflection on love, forgiveness, and resilience. This book is recommended for those who enjoy emotionally rich narratives set in evocative landscapes.

This book deserves all the stars in the sky. I felt everything and cried so many happy tears. I wish I could read it again for the first time, but I'm glad I have a copy to reread whenever life gets to be a little too much. It's about choosing love and trusting yourself and your loved ones. It's about forgiveness, understanding, compassion, empathy, and grace. It's about found family and creating your circle of love. It's about finding the beauty in life and dancing in the rain. The audiobook is phenomenal and I loved every minute of it. Shine bright.

What an emotional rollercoaster!
This story made me think about love, relationships, and how even when things fall apart, there’s always a chance to find healing. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you finish.
Definitely worth the read if you're into deep, character-driven stories.

I LOVED "We Are Made of Stars" by Rochelle B. Weinstein! a wonderful novel about a group of people at a luxury retreat, supporting each other as well as experiencing trauma, betrayal, health scares, financial ruin and relationships. Just excellent! Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

We are Made of Stars is a beautiful story that unleashes secrets, regrets, hope and change. I loved the characters and how they interacted with one another. The healing and love is present. I loved the chef and his wife!!
You'll love this one!

If you enjoy believable love stories that discuss heart-wrenching topics, then purchase Rochelle B. Weinstein's <i>We Are Made of Stars.</i> Weinstein uses five couples and a mother-daughter duo to explore the power and limitations of love, flawed human behavior, and the desire to be known, to be seen, and to be connected to others. Many of these interactions happen around Jean-Paul De La Rue's chef table, where guests and the Inn owners share Jean-Paul's menu. -If you are a foodie, you will appreciate that Weinstein denotes passing days by listing a daily menu. Your mouth will be watering. Don't worry about tracking characters because each chapter is titled with the character who holds the spotlight.

Jean-Paul, a chef, and Renee De la Rue provide a quiet, reflective get-away at their Inn nestled in the North Carolinas mountains. Their guests become their adopted-by-heart children. The De La Rues deeply desire to have children, but Renee is infertile. They pour their hearts into the Inn and the guests who stay there. Guests leave transformed as they work through their worries and renew their strength due to Jean-Paul De La Rue's exquisite chef meals, desserts, and drinks. Renee De La Rue renews their emotional health through thoughtful conversations and carefully curated activities, like long hikes in the mountains.

Some of the guests become the De La Rues' life-long friends who return annually for good food and socialization. Leo and Penny, Lucy and Henry, and Sienna and Adam are returning guests. Cassidy and Rosalie (mother and daughter) are first-time guests. Everyone has problems, and they are wearing social masks because: "[t]hey have all made mistakes, poor decisions that lacked good judgment. Their choices weren't made in a vacuum. There were variables and circumstances--much like the sky and the constellations--that made events happen. Some resulted in explosions, others resulted in falling stars. He [Henry] realizes that people aren't always bad but some decisions are."

Everyone holds secrets, bad decisions with long-reaching consequences. These secrets keep the narrative twisting and shocking. Weinstein enchants the reader with her cosmological comparisons; it adds another layer of magic: "Henry's right. We are made of stars. And when you raise your head towards the sky, you find the magic." Thank you #Rochelle Weinstein for showing me the magic of believable love.

Thank you to #Lake Union Publishing and #NetGalley for my ARC copy.

ISBN 9781662520884
PRICE $16.99 (USD)
PAGES 363
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Made-Stars-Novel/dp/1662520883/

We Are Made Of Stars is made of SECRETS and DRAMA. Several people arrive at an inn for a getaway with R&R and fine dining. But at the end of a week, their lives are forever changed. The characters are flawed in that they are human. Life has slightly broken them in different ways. Mistakes and messes are made. They stumble, but they get back up. It is powerful. Rochelle Weinstein’s storytelling delivers it all with so many twists and reveals that I could not stop turning pages. And there is a constant thread of references to the the stars throughout the novel that I absolutely loved!

I want to give this 3.5 stars because it’s better than a 3 but not quite a 4 - it’s a nice enough tale but I’d pretty much figured out the plot so there weren’t really any surprises… and it’s very American. Lots of US references & terms not all of which I understand (separated by the same language).

It’s an easy enough read… but didn’t move me at all.

3.5⭐️ Renee and Jean-Paul De La Rue host one more weekend getaway before shuttering their Inn for good. When they host their final group, including several couples and a mother and daughter, secrets will come to light and romance rekindled as they are forced to confront past mistakes.

I am still new to reading Rochelle Weinstein, but I really enjoy the emotional angst her books are known for, as well as the dynamic character development. The interconnected nature of these characters, combined with the emotional trauma each brings to the table were fascinating. I appreciated the way she slowly peels back the layers on each couple’s relationship as their issues come to the surface. All in all a solid read, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️character driven
▪️complex relationships
▪️ensemble casts
▪️found family
▪️multiple POVs
▪️North Carolina setting

Thank you Get Red PR, Amazon Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for the gifted copies.

This is a story about four couples, one couple owns a B&B that is financially struggling. The others are guests at the B&B. Most of the characters are shallow and unrelatable which hampered my enjoyment. The setting descriptions are good. It does look like others liked it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to Lake Union for the ARC!

I love the cover and the title!As far as the story itself, I couldn't get interested in it and found it very hard to pick up.

I also found some of the scenes to make me physically cringe.

I have loved Rochelle's books and have felt meh about them in the past, so she is pretty hit or miss for me.

I still think this one will have a good audience and hope for its success.

We Are Made of Stars is a great fiction book. It is a book for everyone. The characters were all very developed, the storyline has something for everyone but mostly it is rich in relationships, friendships, and drama. Each set of couples have their own issues. Each couple comes to the inn for their own reason but the friendships that they make are lifelong.

I love the remote country inn setting. The hikes that they took gave my mind a great visual of what the characters were seeing. The menu at the beginning of each day made my mouth water. I could taste the food as it was cooked with love and thoroughly enjoyed. I could picture the inn and the surrounding woods and mountains.

The book starts slower, which just leads up to the climax of the story. The point in the book where I could not stop reading and the beginning comes together. The characters have those ah-ha moments with each other and relationships are mended. I love it when a book comes together and that is exactly what happens in this book. Everything comes together, although now exactly the way I thought it would.

Rochelle B. Weistein is a must-read author. This book is a must-read book.