Member Reviews
Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for the arc.
A somewhat typical Christmas romance book but still a good read. A good reminder to live life for yourself and what you want out of it.
They say life never gives you more than you can handle and Harper Hayes is about to discover that her perfectly ordered world is about to be put to the ultimate test. With a job, husband, home and BFF she loves, Harper has it all, but as Christmas approaches, what is supposed to be the most joyous time of year becomes the most challenging. Like the old saying goes, Life is what happens when you’re making other plans. You’ll be smiling through your tears
Firstly how stunning is the cover for this book! Secondly just Wow! I really think that this is Lucy Knott’s best book yet.
Harper Hayes is the main character and she is so lovable. Everything in her life seems perfect but that all changes and I was gutted for her. With every page I read I had my fingers crossed that things would take a turn on the good side for Harper. She really deserves happiness and I was desperate for a happy ending for her.
I loved that the location was in two countries and I thought this was perfect for this story. I felt when reading this that I was being whisked away to the magical snowy wonderland of Colorado.
Full of fun, friendships and food this book has it all.
The story itself I think should be made into a Christmas movie it is that good.
The most perfect winter read to curl up to on these dark cold festive nights.
A lovely festive treat with themes of heartbreak, friendship and empowerment that really warms the heart and soul. This book emphasises the power of believing in yourself, doing what is best for your own good and surrounding yourself with people who truly care.
Harper deserves a change of luck; her husband betrays her and doesn’t seem to have a shred of decency. In swoops Madi, best friend extraordinaire, who helps put her back together again and is set on getting her back on the right path.
A year later and Madi takes matters into her own hands, realising Harper needs a shove in the right direction she packs their bags and ships them both off to Colorado – to Harpers parents.
Whilst she’s with those that she loves, Harper discovers parts of herself she either forgot she had or never explored. She pushes herself out of the comfort zone she’d created. With a new sense of adventure, Harper moves forward and takes opportunity with both hands.
A gorgeous setting that’s written so well you will feel like you right on those Colorado slops. With gorgeous characters, Lucy Knott has given us another brilliant story that’s full of heart and soul. It’s not your typical story either which I really enjoyed – I love a romantic tale but this is something different.
I’ve enjoyed everything Lucy Knott has written so far and will look forward to the next time.
This is a love story with a difference. Its magical, its festive and it features a heck of a lot of girl power *peace sign*
Lucy is a wonderful writer, and her writing is always a joy to read, its beautiful, descriptive & makes you want to travel the world to sample all the food. Waffles and peaches? Yes please!
Harper has it all, a wonderful boyfriend, they have just got back from a festive getaway and maybe now its time to start trying for a baby. Well that is what Harper thinks, Scott however - has other ideas, and maybe its time for a break.
When she stumbles across something she wasnt expecting her whole world changes, and she spends the good part of a year trying to heal herself. When her best friend Madi has had enough and basically tells her to pull herself together and go on an adventure her life is about to change.
I cannot get over how much i loved this book. Harper was a delight to discover, i felt for her - when she was struggling along but i knew she would survive becasuse those around her supported her and with the help of her new girl gang - her dreams really start to come through.
It was a winter read that has you curled up under your blanket watching it in your mind play out in front of you like a movie on the christmas channel. This was about love of friends and family, Harper doesnt need no man to save her, she has it all around her & even more inner strength than she ever dreamt of - because its certainly put to the test.
Beautifully written, stunning scenery, i fell in love with this book.
I have been an avid follower of Lucy Knott’s work from the first book; How To Bake A New Beginning, I love her books, they are always so heart-warming, so upbeat and full of sunshine, reading them is like receiving a huge bear hug. This one though is easily the best yet, it is inspiring, joyful, sensitive, full of warmth and emotion, it just goes to show what a skilled and wonderful author Lucy is, she has a wonderful way with words and she just keeps going from strength to strength.
A year after her marriage broke down, Harper Haye’s instil in a deep depression, she is stuck in a bit of a rut with no insight of how to pull herself out, she has become a recluse, she hides away from the pain and reality of what happened, even after a year. Enter stage best friend; Madi, who cannot stay quiet and watch as her friend sinks deeper and deeper into self-pity, Madi makes Harper see that it is time to finally live and move forward. Madi takes Harper off to snowy and beautiful Colorado to spend the festive period with harper’s family, while there she learns to finally embrace life and learns to love again.
Harper’s story really spoke to me, she as a woman spoke to me. I could relate to her so much, true what goes on with Harper’s heart-ache is nothing at all like what has been going on in my life, yet her journey through the book really got to me. After a year a of more downs then ups, being hurt, issues within my personal/family life and having to revaluate myself and what I want, has lead to an exhausting year, yet this book makes you feel that yes no matter what happens there is always love, there is always sunshine as long as you have good friend’s by your side and I couldn’t agree more with that, like Harper she found out just how important her friendship with Madi is, I found that this year. I do have to say a huge thank you to Lucy Knott for writing such a beautiful and relatable book, I know that it won’t just be me that will feel a connection to it.
Wishes Under The Starlit Sky isn’t just a captivating and enjoyable read, full of love, family and food which is what we have come to expect from Ms Knott, there is also a more important message hidden within the words, a message of self-love, self-respect, self-kindness and trying to move on with your life after a heart-break, it shows just how important our true friends are and how important they and our families are to our lives, something which I think many of us do take for granted.
Overall this is a fabulously festive and feel-good story, that is all about love, really what could you ever want for Christmas? (Well except for an extra-large slice of cake and another roast potato…or two?) The story fabulously festive with a hint of a budding romance and with the most beautiful setting that grabs the imagination, what stands out more then anything else is the brilliant friendship between Madi and Harper, like the book, it is perfect and inspiring.
Inspiring, uplifting and heartwarmingly festive!
The story is beautifully crafted with fabulously relatable characters you are invested in from the start, heartwarming friendships (and not forget to mention the scrummy food descriptions that will have your mouth watering!!).
This is novel is about being your best self, not being defined by men and taking risks - with a huge dollop of magic, the perfect feel-good read to keep you warm in the winter!
Thanks to HQ Stories and Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Part of the problem where Harper is concerned is that real life doesn’t meld with her fiction. Even the sweetest or most amorous of relationships are embedded in the harsh reality of living in the real world. In a way that explains why she is completely unable to come to terms with a husband who is living his best life by having both a wife and mistress.
He isn’t even sincere enough to fall in love with another woman and cut off all ties with his wife. No, he is quite happy to bed both, to whisper sweet nothings in their ears and use them both for his self-gratification.
That’s enough about him – the rat. What’s more important is the way Harper finds her emotional stability, the confidence and indeed life the way she knows and loves it, imploding out of the blue. To make it ten times worse it all happens around her favourite time of the year, which in turn wobbles her inner happiness and joy of Christmas.
I thought it was interesting how the story had this subtle layer of weight to it. The author wanted to give readers a pleasant read, but also write a plot with emotional depth to it.
It’s a romance, one that deals the real with dreams. It’s also about friendship, support and different kinds of love. The world is so much bigger than romantic love. Love between friends, between family and also the kind of love that creeps up on you when you are least expecting it.
This was such a lovely book full of love, friendship and family, a hint of romance and messages of self love are thrown in throughout the book.
A wonderful festive read, celebrating life and friendships more than the actual event itself, an inspiring and uplifting story of rebuilding life after heartbreak.
The story is beautifully written, the characters well developed and engaging. I was sad to see it end and would definitely like to read more of this authors work.
The festive books are well and truly out and I'm loving every page!
Harper's story is devastatingly beautiful, I say devastating because her husband, Scott, is a total prat! Leaving her broken hearted with no reason why, please! Be a man!!
A year on and this wonderful woman is still at a lose as to why, I'd say pull yourself together but I'm pretty sure I'd have spent the whole year in my dressing gown and fluffy socks. I love Herper's character, as the story progresses we get to she the life loving woman, the woman who warms your heart and shows you that life after a relationship break up - not matter how hard - does go on, and it can be even better!
I enjoyed seeing Harper out of her comfort zone at times, the joy she brings to other people and her relationship with with her friend, Madi (we all need a Madi in our lives!)
A truly heart warming read that could give a Hallmark movie a run for its money!
Wishes Under a Starlit Sky is a gorgeously festive and inspiring read. It’s a story about love, wonderful friendships and following your dreams!
The story doesn’t start off well for our protagonist Harper – in fact it begins with her husband walking out on their 6-year long marriage just before Christmas. Devastated by this bombshell, we follow Harper over the period of the next few years that follow, as she tries to move on and get her life back together. The book is set between London (her base) and Colorado, and really begins when Harper and her wonderful best friend Madi take a trip to the latter, to visit her parents during Christmas time.
We watch as she experiences both the highs and lows and is helped along the way by her loving parents, her best friend and people she meets along the way, and eventually herself. Their trip to Colorado provides a beautiful snowy backdrop to the festive activities taking place at the time and this book just oozes with cosiness wrapped up in a warm blanket of magic! Think falling snow, hot chocolate, pancakes, warm syrup, tempting vegan food and you’ll get the idea!
This book wasn’t your typical romance (although it is romantic), it focused more on the importance of friendship and how people can appear just at the right moment in your life! People that you just know will become lifelong friends who make you smile, laugh and sometimes cry, but will always be there when you need them with a hug and maybe a hot toddy or Bailey’s infused hot chocolate! There are some amazing characters in this book (special shout out to her best friend Madi, her parents, Dean, Erin and Hayley) and there is of course, some romance towards the end of the book, but it’s the changes within Harper that makes this a special read! We follow her journey of self-belief and see her build up enough courage face her fears and follow her heart to a journey filled with happiness!
Thank you NetGalley and HQ Digital for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an unexpected read for me as I was expecting a holiday romance, but it was more about a woman finding herself after an upheaval in her life. I liked the journey Harper went through and I think it is relatable for people trying to find themselves after personal trials. I like the side characters although I did get them confused at times. The setting is wonderful and as I am from Colorado it actually made me miss it. While it was a bit cheesy at times, I think this was a great holiday read especially if you are looking for something different from a holiday romance,
Meet Harper, a romance screen writer who lives in London. after some major life changing events she goes to Colorado to visit with her Mom and Dad and while there she finally starts to heal and discover her true self. The novel brings you through Harper’s discovery and the changes she has chosen to make in her life all with an uplifting positive feel that is enjoyable! This book is set over three different Christmases which make it a perfect holiday read.
Wishes Under a Starlit Sky by Lucy Knott is a beautiful story about moving on. How can I not love this story, where at least half of it takes place in Colorado, where I have lived my whole life. The strong friendships, family bonds, and romance makes for a perfect Christmas story. I will be reading more from this author. I highly recommend this book, for the perfect winter read.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
Oh I loved this book, perfect winter reading. Superb story and lovable characters, wished I'd saved it for a snowy day.
Harper Hayes is a young woman who feels like she is on top of the world. She loves her job, her husband, her best friend and her parents. She’s just had a wonderful, romantic vacation in Venice with her husband and is looking forward to the upcoming Christmas season. Then the world as she has known it breaks apart.
This is a beautiful story about Harper’s life one year later. The book is set in both England and Colorado, and the locations as described provide the reader with a sense of tranquility. The true star of the book, however, was the beauty of Harper’s journey to wellness and inner peace that left my heart full. Absolutely magnificent writing!
One of my favourite books of 2019, I highly recommend this book to everyone, but particularly to those who feel broken. Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Although the descriptions of the Colorado mountains were nice I felt the book as a whole was very repetitive. I wanted something to happen but it just kept circling back to a group of friends who provided the main character emotional support after her nasty divorce. II had high hopes of this book based on the reviews but it wasn’t what I thought. That being said, perhaps it would appeal more to a younger audience than myself.
Snow capped mountains, log cabins, lovely fires and Christmas, what more can you ask for. Oh yes, this book, its been very well written and enjoyable, I didn't want to put it down. It's a tale of two halves set in this country and the US. Wonderful story and I recommend it
Wishes Under a Starlit Sky was a love story in every sense of the word - the love between friends, family, and the love for oneself. It’s about reconnecting with yourself losing yourself and after heartache. I enjoyed watching Harper find herself and figure out who she was after her marriage fell apart. This is truly a story about self-discovery, healing, and finding happiness, even if that happiness looks nothing like you first expected. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in the last decade is that things don’t always turn out how you expect, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Harper learned that too, and I think it’s something a lot of people will relate to. This is a lovely, heartwarming story to curl up with on a cold winter night.
Being a script writer for a big romance channel, Harper Hayes’ life is picture perfect, or so she believes. Until life throws a curveball and Harper has to decide whether she believes in true love at all.
After wallowing in the sadness for far too long, Harper’s best friend Madi decides something needs to be done, Harper Hayes needs to be the leading lady in her own life! This leads them both to spend time with Harper’s parents on the snowfields of Colorado amongst a beautiful supporting cast of characters. Where Harper finally realises she is enough all by herself.
Instead of Harper finding a new partner I adored the way the author shows her falling in love with herself again, and doing the things that made her happy without relying on someone else. All of the YES!