I know the cover says Libba Bray wrote this, but it doesn't feel like she did. Don't get me wrong, it's very well written and a lesser skilled author couldn't pull off three timelines as well as Bray does, but it's missing all the hallmarks you expect from a Libba Bray book. Fans of her previous work will notice the lack of her wacky humor (Going Bovine, Beauty Queens) or smartly magical characters (The Diviners series) but the social commentary is front and center.

This book is a call to arms when I needed a place to retreat from the world. She's showing us just how important it is and has been to stand up to Fascism at a time when my country seems to be heading that very direction. This would have been a five star book in my heart had I been in a different mental space when I read it.

January LaVoy is an amazing narrator and the reason I requested the audiobook. She, along with Jeremy Carlisle Parker and Major Curda, guide the listener through a tricky maze of three distinct timelines. Even with a huge cast of characters you are able to keep all the storylines straight with the help of their distinct voices.

This was my first book by Libba Bray and I've only heard good things about this author!! Under the same stars was long (over 16hrs on audio) but the multi-timeline structure makes it almost a necessity in a book that's really three books in one.

Alternating between the present (pre and post-COVID), the 1980s in Berlin (pre-fall of the wall) and the WWII Germany, we get to know a large cast of teens who in their own ways resist the current political movements of their day (from the BLM movement, to the punk rock scene to the underground movement against the Nazis).

It was exceptionally well done on audio with a full cast of narrators and totally deserved the GMA YA book club selection for its inspirational messages for youth resistance and protest, especially in a world where we need more young people to care and take action.

Recommended for fans of authors like Ruta Sepetys or Hannah Reynolds. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This was such a well written and important read and I'm glad I gave it a chance!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and I enjoyed it. There are many different narrators and that just made the story come to life in my ears and my head. The story was one I had not heard before. It was, at times, a little hard to follow but it all came together nicely at the end. I enjoyed this book. Thank you again NetGalley!!

"Love is resistance; resistance is love." What an incredible and incredibly timely book. Expertly narrated by January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Major Curda, Under the Same Stars follows three timelines that are all moving and full of both heartbreak and hope. While my favorite timeline was West Germany in the early 1980's, I was interested in all three, especially once the action and intrigue started to pick up. There are many moments in this novel that call out to us today -- to be present, to resist fascism and oppression, to speak out, to live with hope -- even in the face of tyranny and evil. At this moment in our fraught history, Under the Same Stars is an undeniably important book.

A good message and a timely reminder of the importance of resistance and protest against tyrannical regimes, but there was just too much filler.

As much as I enjoyed this in the end, it took a long time to get invested. The larger story is told through the ambitious and well-researched POVs of three people in three very different time eras: Nazi Germany, West Berlin when the wall is still up, and New York City 2020. They are all connected, but how long it took to show that was my only real gripe about this book.

The 1940's timeline was my favourite because it was the most impactful with the most interesting characters and obvious gestures of resistance. The 2020 one was fine and clear with how it connected to the earliest timeline, but the characters felt the flattest because everything is through Zoom and we don't really see Miles outside of this topic. The 80's timeline was my least favourite because Lena annoyed me and it all felt like filler of teenage angst and emo.

This was a hard book to read at times though, emotionally. The 2020 Covid trauma is still too fresh to really want to revisit it, and the two other tales in Germany both too closely resemble what is happening in the States right now with that orange idiot at the helm. It's hard to feel any semblance of hope when the things that happened in Nazi Germany are basically about to happen in the US, but this book serves as a good reminder that even the darkest of times come to an end, and it does not happen without good people rising up and fighting back however they can.

Under the Same Stars is a beautifully written blend of three major historical periods; Nazi Germany in the 1940, West Germany in the 1980s, and New York City in 2020.

The audiobook features a cast of narrators that help bring the story to life, and the way Bray changed the writing style to fit with the time period was flawlessly executed. I was highly invested in the story and cared about the characters from the moment I hit play to the second the story was completed.

Woven through the decades is a bit of a mystery centered around the "Bridegroom's Oak" and what it meant to many along the way. Going back and forth through time, you become immersed in the precarious nature of Germany during WWII, the rebellion of the characters when West and East Germany were divided, and young people navigating the upheaval of normalcy that Covid-19 brought to the world. It was a journey through time that, although initially seemed disjointed, comes together beautifully.

This book feels important with the political climate of today. It reminds us that though we've progressed significantly, we still have a long way to go regarding equality. There are some really sensitive issues covered in this novel, and Bray did so with the perfect balance of tenderness and rage. This isn't a novel I will soon forget.

4.5 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book.

Under the Same Stars is a deeply layered historical fiction story that tells us why it's so important to know our history. The story is told in three different time periods. Sophie and Hanna live in 1940s Germany in a small village where a resistance in building against the Nazis. American teenager Jenny is spending the summer in 1980s in West Germany where she discovers the punk scene and what she really wants out of her life. In 2020 New York City, Miles is coming to terms with the lockdown during the pandemic and how his life and future have changed. All three stories are interwoven with an ongoing fairy tale, featuring the Bridegroom's Oak, a magical matchmaking tree.

I really enjoyed all of the stories and characters that were featured in this book. I think the pacing in particular was great as it had me invested in all of the different characters' stories. The narrators did a great job with capturing the time and the tone of the story as well. Some of the dialogue from the 2020s was a bit cringe, as the characters might say, but it did set the tone for the time. I loved the way that the themes carried on throughout the different time periods and it was interesting to see how different eras dealt with similar issues. This story features Nazis, the Berlin Wall, and the COVID-19 pandemic, so readers who try to avoid any of these topics will want to skip this one. This will be a great one for fans of historical fiction, especially how our history impacts us in the present.

This book was beautifully done. It was both hopeful and devastating, a story that lingers long after the final page. Libba Bray masterfully weaves together three timelines, showing how history repeats itself in cycles that seem impossible to break—yet young people continue to stand up, speak out, and fight for change despite the risks.

I was completely captivated, unable to put the book down until I unraveled how the three stories connected. From WWII resistance efforts to the Berlin Wall protests of the 1980s to a modern-day mystery, each thread felt urgent and deeply emotional. The novel forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the past and present while never losing sight of hope.

This is absolutely a book club pick for me. There’s so much to discuss—acts of resistance, historical echoes, love in all its forms, and what it truly means to make a difference. If you love historical fiction that makes you think and feel, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Under the Same Stars is a story told across three different timelines, Germany in the 1940's, West Germany in the 1980's and New York City in the 2020's. The book interconnects the timelines with a folk tale that helps explain what happens to the main characters as Germany's political landscape changed. The MC of the 2020's is trying to solve a mystery and as they go through the clues, they find themselves and uncovers the truth to a family secret.

I highly enjoyed the 1940's Germany and 1980's West Germany storylines verus the pandemic 2020's timeline. I would have thoroughly enjoyed the expansion of those storylines. The writing/narrators did a great job telling this story, the tension and plot were well developed and portrayed.

Why I possibly did not enjoy the pandemic 2020's timeline: the immature teenager who uses a school project to discover themselves with a dash of found family and feelings of gratefulness during the pandemic. I'm just not into pandemic timelines and stories.

Under the Same Stars will definitely be well liked and received by readers. The story had its highlights and it's filler. I loved the narrators and believe they did an excellent job.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners and the author for the opportunity to read/listen in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting to socials.

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray is an engaging, multi-generational story that connects three timelines—1940s Nazi Germany, 1980s West Germany, and 2020 New York City—through the legendary Bridegroom’s Oak. Each storyline explores themes of love, resistance, and the lingering effects of the past.

I enjoyed how the novel took its time revealing how the three narratives connected. Despite being set in vastly different time periods, the characters grapple with similar issues of identity, courage, and the importance of standing up for what’s right. Bray’s writing is vivid and immersive, with each era feeling distinct yet intertwined.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and beautifully crafted story that keeps readers invested as the pieces slowly—and satisfyingly—fall into place.

4.5 stars. I listened to the audiobook on this one, and I think this would have been 5 stars if I had read it in print. There are lots of characters and 3 distinct timelines, and sometimes on audio I would lose track of both the plot and characters on occasion. The audio narration was excellent though! But......what a timely story this one is! I loved everything about it! I thought Bray did an excellent job of weaving together the 3 different timelines, developing the plot and the characters, and making significant connections to the current state of affairs (and to think this book was written before our most recent election). I highly recommend this read, but maybe read it in the best format for retaining information for you.

This book was wonderfully written and is one of my top pick of 2025. If you're a fan of historical fiction, mystery, and contemporary fiction, this is a must read. it's been ages since I have read anything by Libba Bray, but this reminded me why I loved her YA books when I was growing up. I loved how she was able to intertwine all of the stories. Personally, the two historical narratives in particular, stood out more than the 2020 storyline. I adored the character development of Sophie and Hanna. The author effectively highlighted how propaganda spread in the 1940s and how swiftly war can overtake reality. Jenny's story from the 1980s was the quintessential coming-of-age tale. The punk scene in West Berlin added an element of intrigue, and I appreciated how the author showcased the stark contrasts between West Berlin and East Berlin, while growing up in the 80's.
While the NYC Covid timeline was my least favorite, it encapsulated the early pandemic period perfectly. Some of the dialogue didn't resonate with me, and Miles and Chloe weren't my favorite characters. However, I did appreciate the strong parallel drawn between Miles and Sophie, despite their experiences being nearly a century apart. This book feels especially politically relevant in today’s world—I can't recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC audiobook!

This was a wonderful and unexpectedly timely story. I really adored how the story unfolded with the three different timelines woven with into a masterfully crafted overlap that keeps you guessing until the end. All three also highlight time periods in history where there was a forced mass upheaval from a young adults point of view as they grapple with carving out who they are and going after the life they want to have instead of the life they are expected to from the society around them. It's a powerful juxtaposition.

The narrators were brilliant at bringing these characters voices to life and greatly enhanced the experience of the story. I highly recommend this book.

If you love Kristin Hannah’s books but want more of a YA historical story from an author that is dipping there foot in the genre, this one is it! I LOVED it!

I loved this blend of YA historical fiction and mystery! The narrators of this audiobook really brought the stories to life!

I loved the parallels between the different timelines and the way they all tied together. The stories from each timeline were so compelling, I couldn't stop listening! This is an important read, it feels especially timely with everything currently going on in the world.

This book had a lot to say about recognizing propaganda for what it is and about what it means to stand up to an oppressive government. I will be getting my teenagers to read this book as I really believe this is the kind of book everyone should read and reflect on.

The Gemma Doyle trilogy is an all time favorite of mine, and I think there’s no doubt that Libba Bray does excellent work in the YA fantasy sphere. Of more mixed results have been her non-fantasy novels, and I think this one is the best of the lot.

This is a beautifully written, three timeline piece of historical fiction, and while it takes a while to make the connections, all three stories are both worthy on their own and enhanced by their relationship with each other.

The links between them are a bit loose, but they do work and I think that semi-tenuous style of connection actually makes them feel more plausible. Bray seems to get the crux of what matters in all three eras, and she’s written a lovable cast of characters in each of them.

The World War II timeline is a bit tough to read at the end, though that again probably makes it more realistic, and the nobility and heroism of it make it less painful, even if anything connected to this era feels extra hard to take at the moment given what’s going on in our world right now.

To that end, one of the things I loved about this book is its profound sense of hope, which I think is something I needed right now, and I loved that Bray zeroed in on the idea that sometimes the way we affect change is going to feel small, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be impactful.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reading copy of Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray. I can't wait to start this book.

This was the perfect mix of historical fiction and mystery. This book takes place over three timelines.

The first 1940’s Hitler’s Germany, shows Sophie and Hanna’s perspective and how two school age youth took part in the resistance against the Nazi’s.

The second is a coming of age story that takes place in 1980’s West Berlin where Jenny is an American tourist learning about the wall and division of West Berlin and East Berlin.

The third takes place in Spring 2020 during the Covid pandemic. While in lockdown Miles and Chloe investigate Chloe’s family history. This leads them to the mystery of two missing teenagers who disappeared 80 years earlier at the Bridegroom’s Oak.

Libba Bray has a way with words and does an excellent job of seamlessly weaving all three timelines. The narrator does a phenomenal job distinguishing between the vast amount of characters and timelines. I truly enjoyed learning how the narratives were interconnected.

I just can not get into this one, and once the topic of covid was introduced, it lost me. The narrator was great though, but even she couldn't save the book for me.

A slow burn plot that I just could not get into. Maybe part of it was that it is a YA book and every aspect had to be explained. With three different timelines there was a lot to get through. Perhaps it wasn't the time in my life to read a literary read. I'll try it again later.

This is a story of love. This is a story of resistance. Brilliantly told by 3 sets of characters in three timelines all telling the story of what happened to three young people who defied the Nazis & then disappeared. What happened to them? You will be desperately turning the pages to find out. Beautiful!