Jojo Moyes is an amazing storyteller who keeps you spellbound for the whole book. I knew nothing about these intrepid women who risked a lot to deliver books to people who wouldn’t otherwise get them. British Alice who wanted to escape her stifling family to find she now has another, Margery the brains behind the horseback librarians who doesn’t care about the gossips in the town who think she’s bad because of her family. Margery’s character just jumps right off the page she’s so ahead of her time and fierce. This book has stayed with me long after reading it as it’s so special and such a celebration of women.

Another excellent book, a beautiful and thought-provoking story.

I have read two other books by Jojo Moyes and enjoyed them immensely so was delighted to receive her latest book, and it certainly does not disappoint. Ms Moyes seems to have the knack of writing strong female characters in such a way that you are drawn into their lives and find yourself on their side throughout.

This book revolves around a young lady, Alice Wright, living in England in the late 1930s who feels totally restless and bored with her life. When in a chance encounter she meets the handsome and wealthy American, Bennett Van Cleve, she willingly accepts his marriage proposal dreaming of big cities where she can become a member of society and attend fascinating events. The reality is completely different, and she ends up in Baileyville, Kentucky, a small town full of prejudices and rules to be observed. However, to make matters worse, Bennett and Alice have to live with Geoff, her overbearing father-in-law who believes women’s’ places are in the home and despite all Bennett’s words of love when in England, he keeps Alice at arm’s length and is unwilling or unable to consummate his marriage.

Alice feeling even lonelier than before jumps at the chance to link up with Margery O’Hare who is the leading instigator of a travelling library that involves delivering books to the people living miles away throughout the countryside surrounding Baileyville. Despite the disapproval of her husband and father-in-law, Alice is determined to become involved with this and although she finds it very hard, to begin with, not only with the hard work but also with the hostility of local people both in and out of the town, slowly but surely, she grows to love her work which makes up for her unhappiness at home. She becomes fast friends with Margery who is independent and determined to carry on her mission to spread the word of books to people who have very little else in their lives. She has a lover but is totally against marriage despite being very much in love with Sven, as memories of her childhood still haunt her.

Alice confronts her father-in-law, who brutally attacks her and she flees from her home and stays with Margery. She meets Fred and realises that she is falling in love with him, but she is a married woman and is unable to give into her feelings due to the rigid rules of the society she is living in.

For Alice, the library and the handful of women prepared to be involved in it becomes her life and helps assuage her unhappiness in her marriage. However, things come to a head when Margery is accused of murdering one of the loners up in the mountains and is thrown into prison. The primary opponents to the library, in particular Alice’s father-in-law, Geoff Van Cleve, have now the perfect excuse to stop the travelling library and Alice has no real alternative but to return home to England despite her love for Fred.

It would be unfair to give away anymore of this story because it needs to be read and enjoyed. Suffice it to say that I loved the whole book and recommend it to anyone. It is such a joy to read a book about strong female characters battling against the prejudices around them, and as I stated earlier I found myself rooting for them. It was also an excellent storyline, and I must admit that at the very end, there was an ironic twist that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have also just discovered that this is based on a true story which is just amazing. I only hope that Jojo Moyes carries on producing such brilliant books for years to come. One of my must-read authors.

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I'm not a big fan of romance books so I haven't read many of Jojo Moyes books. I liked the sound of this story as it was based on real events and it's about books! I'm so glad I read it. It's an amazing read and I couldn't put it down.

“Knowledge is important, don’t you think? We all say at the library, without facts we really do have nothing.”

When one of your all-time favourite authors announces a new novel, it really did give me a reason to read the blurb even though historical fiction is not my first choice of genre. Primarily, I’m a mood reader and choose to read what I really fancy at the time. However, once I read the synopsis, I was hooked!

This story is set in 1930’s post-depression era rural Kentucky and centres around the story of five young women. As history tells us, Eleanor Rooverselt was a huge reader and believed reading gave people a chance at a better life, so she sets up a scheme to introduce literacy to every corner of the US. She creates The Pack Horse Library which is what these five incredible women help set up. The First Lady was a forward-thinking woman of her time and history shows what huge strides she achieved for the rights of women in America.

“I sometimes think you love these mountains as much as I do. I think I might like them better than anywhere on earth. I just feel … more myself up here.”

It’s clear to see Ms Moyes has done her homework and weaves an unbelievable tale of fiction interwoven with historical fact. As you can imagine, five women setting up such a scheme brings its ups and downs. What I really loved about the story is that Moyes doesn’t focus this book on one particular character which for me enhanced the reading experience even more. The challenges these women face are one of bravery and wonder and at times I did feel the emotion building to a point where I just couldn’t stop reading. It must be said that these women were all from very different backgrounds which brought a fantastic dynamic to the story. It would’ve been very easy to pit these women against each other on their journey. Instead, they fought together towards an objective very important and personal to all of them. The love and support they showed each other and the risks they took were nothing short of awe-inspiring. In times where women were told what they could and most importantly couldn’t do, they bravely did and played by their own rules.

“We women face many unexpected challenges when we choose outside what are considered our habitual boundaries”

The writing was simply brilliant which I have come to expect from Ms Moyes. I could wax lyrical about this book for a long time. The character development was fantastic considering five women were all fully involved in the story arc. Not at any time was I left wanting. All extremely lovable women who not once gave me reason to shout out loud at my Kindle! This story has to be one of the best reads that focused on the friendships of women in a time of such hardship. It’s been some time since I finished this compelling read only now life has not given me a chance to write my feelings down however, the story is still very fresh in my mind. This book would be amazing translated onto the big screen. The scenery conjured up a rural Kentucky in my mind so vibrant and breathtaking, it would be simply incredible!

I love that this book is based on a real horseback library - just the thought of this being an actual thing that really existed is amazing.

Unfortunately for me I wasn't quite as inspired by the fictional story weaved around it, I really wanted to love it - I am big fan of Jojo Moyes - and the writing had a lovely flow, the characters were nicely thought out and had depth. I just didn't feel drawn in by the actual story, and whilst I absolutely loved the conclusion and thought it felt right, parts of Margery's story towards the last third of the book felt too extreme to fit the pace.

I am really glad to have read it and I may read again - I still think it worthy of 4 stars, and maybe its my own expectations that are at fault.

The character of Sophia is the winner for me.

I wanted to read this book on the basis of the author, rather than the subject matter. When I started the book and realised it was a historical novel, my heart sank as this is a genre I have little interest in.

The story is set in the 1930's and based loosely around the real life story of the female Horseback librarians, who were set up to increase literacy in the remote mountainous locations of Kentucky. This is a celebration of sisterhood, at a time when women were seen as second-class citizens.

Well before I had finished the first chapter, I was totally drawn into that world and I was gripped. I was invested in the individual characters and their stories. The ups and downs and difficulties they faced through the job and in their home lives were compelling and I could not put the book down until I had finished it.

That is surely the sigh of a successful writer, where they can convert you to a story that would not normally interest you. I loved it and would definitely recommend it.

Book 📖

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Jojo Moyes is such a big time author, I was surprised and super buzzed to be given this ARC of her new book. I love her work and couldn’t wait to start this one. Thank you so much to Penguin UK and Jojo Moyes for the opportunity to review in return for an honest review.

Description 🔖

Based on a true story set in Kentucky within the Depression era, this book tells the story of a group of women brought together by the controversial travelling library endorsed by Eleanor Roosevelt. All of the women come from different walks of life, but quickly bond over their passion for their work and the unexpected depth of the friendships that are made. Not everyone in their small town and the surrounding mountains wants the initiative to work which forces the ladies to fight together to uphold their beliefs, hold on to their relationships and do what they believe to be right.

General Thoughts 🤔

Some books hit me like a lorry right from the very beginning. Some books steadily get my attention and peak my interest at a steady pace. This book falls into the second category and I think it made me appreciated it more. I found the story to be heart warming, eye opening, sad and happy all at the same time. I enjoyed it so much I didn’t want it to end, even as the story was nicely wrapped up and concluded at the end.

Characters 👫👭👬

The characters are what make this book so good. I loved each of the ladies in their own right and for their own qualities. I genuinely believe that with just one of those ladies removed from the book, it would be a totally different story. Then there are the “baddies”. Those characters that mess everything up and you love to hate; yes Van Cleave I’m talking about you! Jojo has achieved such special character development in this book, letting us as readers know a little more about each character at just the right time.

Writing Style ✍🏽

I love Jojo Moyes and I have read so much of her work. I found this book to be quite different from other books she has written but just as brilliant. As I said above, the story unfolds at just the right steady pace. There aren’t any POW moments or shocking twists, but this isn’t the story for that. She has created such special characters through her writing, I can only thank her for awesome work.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

I loved this book. It made me smile, laugh, feel sad and hold my breath at moments of tension. This is such a marvellous story, told through fantastic characters via astounding writing. With Christmas right around the corner, I’ll be gifting this to my nearest and dearest to share it’s fabulousness!!

I've read all of JoJo's books and have loved them. I was a bit weary on how different this one was going to be as it is based on real events rather than fiction. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the book and how quickly I fell in love with the librarians. This is a story about a real struggle in the mountains. A woman who is unhappy in her marriage and finds something worthwhile to do. The characters are strong and likeable and you want to find out more about them. I fell in love with the strong characters and their personal struggles. I shed a lot of tears whilst resding. A moving and gripping read, something a bit different from JoJo's normal writing. She has portrayed the period in history beautifully and created some really strong, likeable characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweeping story about Alice and Margery, the men they married and loved, and their experience as packhorse librarians. Backed up by a cast of other librarians and local characters, the blurb of this book says it's the story of five women, but it's definitely not. It's the story of two. That's not a criticism, by any means, and the female friendships which develop between the packhorse librarians is beautifully drawn. It's just that there are more than five women involved in the library, and those five mentioned in the blurb are no more or less developed than several other characters.

Alice and Margery carry the story, driving the plot, and carrying the reader along with them. And to suggest that the book is equally about Beth, Sophia, and Izzy does an injustice to the structure of the book. That's not to say that their stories aren't compelling - they are, and all three characters are hugely interesting, developed, and add depth to a story which otherwise is very white and able-bodied. But I don't see that Izzy's story is any more compelling or developed than, say, Kathleen Bligh's. Again, this isn't a criticism of the book. I actually love how developed the stories of the secondary characters are, and think Kathleen's story is beautifully done.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. Alice is a compelling main character, and Margery is tough, take no nonsense, and also vulnerable, and sweet, and fragile in unexpected ways. Alice's relationship with her husband Bennett, who swept her off her feet and whisked her away to Kentucky, is soured by the looming presence of his father, Mr Van Cleve, whose rigid ideals and disapproving countenance overhang the book as a whole.

Alice and Margery join and run the WPA Packhorse library, bringing them freedom and interaction as they deliver books, magazines, and pamphlets around the mountains and residences of rural Kentucky. The growing love Alice has for her surroundings is contrasted sharply against the cold, withdrawn nature of her marriage, and Alice's character developing as she becomes the fully realised woman she evolves into at the end of the book. To see her grow was a thoroughly enjoyable journey - mostly on horseback - and one that I would happily recommend.

I did have a few disappointments or quibbles with the book - Sven, Margery's partner, felt underdeveloped at times, occasionally nothing more than a generic male presence to bounce off Margery. And Alice's acceptance of Margery's unconventional lifestyle seemed too hurried to really countenance. There was some - but not a lot - exploration of racial tensions in the mines and the towns, but it was brushed off without much thought, which was somewhat disappointing. Alice's actions in the final pages, once she reads the booklet, were surprising, and honestly, I thought her religious beliefs weren't wonderfully portrayed, or developed, especially as her behaviour throughout the book does gradually throw off the confines of religion. These were relatively minor, though.

Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book, a tour de force of female friendship and women forging new paths for themselves in a time when to do so was not easy. Two vibrant main characters sparkle on the page and their interactions and intertwined lives are a joy to read. The historical background of the novel feels natural and unforced, and highlights an initiative that I was previously entirely unaware of. I gobbled this book up, enjoying every delectable page, and will be recommending it around with joyful abandon.

I loved this book. I have only read one Jojo Moyes before (I know - how has that happened?) and, after reading this book I will definitely be looking to read more of her work. I cant believe that this book is based on a true story!

This is something of a diversion for Jojo Moyes and not the kind of book I'd usually lean towards, i.e. historical fiction, but having read all of this author's previous work and knowing her to be an extremely accomplished author I decided to give it a go. Not only was I pleasantly surprised - I was absolutely bewitched by this amazing story. Based on fact, it tells the tale of the Pack horse Librarians in Kentucky in the 1930's. These were a group of young women who rode horses and mules into remote mountain areas delivering books to the poor and fostering a love of reading and learning among the inhabitants of those poor areas. I was instantly drawn to the lovely, warm characters in the book, Ladies who, despite having many problems of their own, (one had a physical disability, another was recently bereaved, another was treated harshly and beaten by her father in law, another reviled simply because of her family history) nevertheless continued their work as they faced untold hardships. There were some really unpleasant male characters in the book - one I hated with a vengeance and hoped to see him get his come uppance. It's hard to believe that so much racial prejudice and suppression of women happened within the last 100 years. Happily, there were also some lovely gentlemen and the romantic elements relating to them were beautifully written. Some parts of the book were so compelling and fast moving that I found myself reading at breakneck speed in order to find out what was coming next! Other parts were tear inducing and thought provoking. Jojo Moyes writes such exquisite prose and she must have done an enormous amount of research to produce this wonderful story. I loved and lived every single page. My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This book is set in Kentucky in The Great Depression and is based on the true story of the Pack Horse Librarians who delivered books and magazines to rural communities. The women librarians believed that education was a way out of poverty and they began a mission to reach the poor and the lost. They endured fierce opposition and encountered the harshest of conditions but all of this strengthened their resolve and in turn cemented their friendship. This is a wonderful book about love, friendship, loyalty and the power of books. Being a book of historical fiction this is a departure from Jo Jo Moyes usual genre of writing but it doesn’t disappoint. I received a free copy of this book. A favourable review was not required and all opinions expressed here are my own

What a fantastic story! It has everything I love- a historic setting based on fact, a library and a group of brave and determined women striking out against adversity for the benefit of others. This novel is based on the initiative of Mrs Roosevelt to bring books to the more isolated areas of America, during the great depression years of the 1930s. Her idea was that women should use horses to access some of these remote areas, and thus the W PAs Horseback Librarian Programme was created. And what a brilliant setting for a novel! Our protagonists are an interesting bunch, Margery the rebellious and determined leader of the group, Alice, newly married and newly arrived from England, Izzy, coping with the effects of the polio she suffered as a child and Beth, cheerful, determined and just a little bit wild.The issues they face were all accurate for this period and hard to believe now. The writing really invites the reader into their world and I found that I was completely invested in their story, really rooting for them and the future of their library. The level of racism and sexist behaviour they experience soon creates problems and the women’s determination to overcome these, and other more personal issues, and keep the library going leads to a gripping and enthralling story. I really loved the author’s descriptions of the benefits and gratitude of those who received the books too. This book has sent me off determined to find out more about the real life Horseback Librarians. A highly, highly recommended read! One of the very best I’ve read this year!

A fantastic book which I would have devoured much faster had I not been in the throes of the beginning of the school year tiredness!
Jojo Moyes has created a story about a group of women who are all very different, yet grow to have an extremely close bond, brought together by the WPA Packhouse libraries. Set in depression-era America, we learn the strength of five women who are not afraid to fight for their rights and go against the menfolk holding them back.
It was an emotional read, especially the last half, as I became more invested in the characters, their own personal stories, and what would happen to them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up. full review up on the blog.
Remarkable story of five incredible and diverse women – based on a true story. The horseback library of 1930s Kentucky is a powerful story of bravery, friendship and love. Set in the great depression era, this book touches all the important subjects of the time; issues of racism, class, women’s rights. It was a totally remarkable, magical even, story which I was fully immersed into and still plays on my mind. It’s emotional in parts, so have your tissues ready – truly an amazing read.

I started off a little unsure about this book. I felt it took a while to really get going but once it did, I was utterly entranced. Well written, believable characters who you really come to care about. Strong, independent women who find unlikely friendships through the packhorse library. I laughed, I cried and I didn’t want it to end! Just a truly feel good, heart warming, beautifully told story. Do read it!

I am a big fan of Jojo Moyes and Me Before You is one of my favourite books so I was obviously going to be very excited when I realised that she had a new book out. The Giver of Stars is historical fiction at it’s best and based upon a true story, it will leave you wanting to know more about the women who inspired this fantastic story.
Alice Wright has left her rather stuffy and unwelcoming home in England to follow her heart and marry Bennett Van Cleve of Kentucky. She finds herself a stranger in a very foreign land with a husband ruled by his father and a rather unwelcoming society. Faced with endless days alone and a husband who seems terrified to come anywhere near her, Alice jumps at the chance to get involved with a new initiative. The Horseback Librarian Program was set up by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930’s and the aim was to get literature out within the rural communities. The idea was to share information, encourage children to learn to read and provide education to those who may not receive it in any other form. Margery O’Hare, the daughter of a renowned Moonshiner is leading the way and she recruits Alice with several other women, Izzy, Beth, Sophia and Kathleen.
For Alice it brings a whole new lease of life, she is out all day on a horse, travelling across wild terrain and encountering all different walks of life. Once she has proved herself she begins to make friends with this small tight-knit group of women and she finally has something that makes Kentucky feel like it could be a home. However, Bennett’s father is against the library from the very start and he has reasons to dislike Margery O’Hare, he sets out to bring them all down, his daughter-in-law included. Events spiral out of control and soon they are all in real danger with the town against them, can they turn it around and continue doing their good work or will prejudice and bigotry finish them off?
I have no idea why but I always avoid books set in the South but I’m so glad I read this one as it was fantastic. I loved the setting, the female characters, the truth behind the story and the many themes that Moyes included.
Each of the women involved in the library have their own story and they are all quite distant at the beginning and a little wary of each other. It was lovely to see these women come together and learn from each other until they become the best of friends and prepared to do all they can to look out for each other. Alice and Margery were my favourite characters, they are both incredibly brave in their own ways and have so much to give, it was very frustrating to see the town turning against them when they are doing so much good.
There is a romantic element to the book which was so well done, both Margery and Alice have love interests but both are hesitant to give themselves to these men for different reasons. The male characters in this book are a real mix, you have some very old-fashioned attitudes as you would expect at this time but two characters in particular show it was a time of great change and hope for women with attitudes changing.
Obviously this book is about books too and the power they yield, a subject matter I am always happy to read about. At a time when many people did not have any access to education and the only book in the house would be the Bible, the Horseback Library Program was revolutionary. To bring literature and educational materials to rural communities saw attitudes and opinions begin to change. These people are living in real poverty and surviving day to day, it was so lovely to see how these books gave real comfort and a little escapism in what was a very difficult life.
I cannot recommend The Giver of Starts enough, I was totally taken with these women and their story from the beginning. Jojo Moyes is just so good at creating characters that you fall in love with and then spinning a fascinating story around them. I urge you to read this book, you won’t be disappointed.

Blimey! I was tearful by the end of the author's note at the beginning! I loved the literary references and passages quoted throughout - so much so that I ended up down a Lloyd C Douglas rabbithole which culminated in me reading an eBook version of "The Robe", then scouring eBay and purchasing a hard copy from 1947! In "The Giver Of Stars", Jojo Moyes has given us something magical. The book is beautifully written and meticulously researched. As a library campaigner and community activist, the story hit me right in the feels. Everything about it is wonderful! The characters are so lifelike that I feel I know them personally. This is a novel to cherish, read again and again and gift to everyone you know. I've already ordered a hardback version for my friend's birthday. This book is very special indeed. There are insufficient stars in the Universe to give it a high enough rating . A first class piece of work from an author at the very top of her game. Stunning!

Set in the Great Depression in mountainous Kentucky, it entails the story a group of women who fight to set up a library for their community.It is a really good read for a book group as it has such a focus on the joy of and value in books and reading in particular. Well done for another good book by Jojo.

The Giver of Stars

Once again Jojo Moyes has shown what a versatile writer she is with another complete change of direction. The Giver of Stars is almost an adventure book with a lot of gripping action. It is based on a true situation where women acted as librarians in Kentucky in the 1930s. Their objective is to deliver books to poor families who have no way of obtaining books for their families because of a lack of money and availability in the depression. These families live in the mountains which are quite inaccessible so the women get the books delivered by using mules and horses. The main two characters are Marjory, who appears tough and unsentimental, which belies her ability to be soft and caring. The other character is an Englishwoman called Alice who is newly married and has come to America to join her husband. Bennett Van Cleve, the son of a wealthy businessman. The marital home she moves into has a cold and characterless atmosphere with the dead wife of the father ever present, making Alice feel uncomfortable in her own home and unable to change things.
All the characters are totally believable and all the women who work at the library are amazing in different ways. They develop a strong bond and friendship which carries them through all the problems that are thrust upon them. Marjory and Alice are the two main characters but they are joined by Beth, Sonya, Izzie and finally Kathleen who all have a part to play in what is a really good story. The women are wonderful with big hearts and a strong sense of justice and all the events show the power of good friendship.

I have loved all of Jojo Moyes’ books. She is a wonderful story teller with the ability to lure you in. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review another great book.