Sadly I DNF'd this book as I just didn't care.
The pacing was slow, I wasn't interested in the main character and honestly I was expecting some big mysterious secret but despite the synopsis selling it as a "devastating secret" and it being mentioned at the start - we find out instantly what it is... oh.. and I knew the second she mentioned a secret what it was because... hello?? the cover?? and probably the biggest trope of the genre?

Don't get me wrong, I have no issue with that topic, but it's the marketing and writing the first chapter as if we have some big secret when it's given away instantly? So I had no intrigue any more. I picked this up for a mystery when there wasn't one and then I just didn't care.

A beautiful gem of a book that will lift your heart. A very gentle and comforting book that is an ideal Christmas read and is just like a warm blanket and a mug of hot chocolate. Perfect for a cosy winter's afternoon by the fire.

I had high hopes for this historical fiction, but unfortunately, it fell slightly short of my expectations. I struggled to connect with the characters and felt that I didn't get to know them deeply enough.

While the cover is stunning and the story is pleasant, it didn't resonate with me as strongly as I had hoped. It's a thoughtful and touching book, but I yearned for greater depth in the characterization.

I was really excited for this historical fiction but I was slightly disappointed. I did not feel a connection to the characters and I didn't feel like I got to know them much.

The cover is beautiful, the story is nice but it just didn't affect me as much as I expected. It is a thoughtful and touching book, I would have just enjoyed more depth to the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sally Nicholls and the publishers for the chance to read and review this story.

Although I'm far from being a young adult myself, I love a well-written YA book and this one was no exception.
This story really pulls on the heartstrings as Margot finds herself pregnant just after World War 1 with her fiance missing in the war. It's poignant and moving and I highly recommend this book.

The Silent Stars Go By is brilliant, I loved it so much. There’s a war going on folks and not just any war but a world war, it’s tops turvy times we might all die at any moment so life is for the living and that goes double for hormoned up teenagers in sleepy little villages who fancy the literal pants of each other. For Margot and Harry this ends in teen pregnancy and As the Silent Stars Go By is a beautiful and subtly done little story about the fall out of that summer as Margot struggles with what she wants to do and what she should do. Everyone is in this book is basically good and they are all just trying to do what is right for each other no matter what is costs themselves emotionally or psychologically. And it’s 1919 so everyone is brilliantly repressed. Repression is my favourite. This was the best.

The Silent Stars Go By is an enthralling story by Sally Nicholls which will stay with you long after you have turned the final page. In the backdrop of post-WWI England, Nicholls delicately creates an intimate portrait of heartbreak, loyalty and forbidden love as she follows the tale of Margot. Torn between honouring her family and protecting the love of her life, she battles with her conscience to choose the right path in a society still trying to heal its war wounds.

Nicholls explores the dichotomies of freedom and captivity as well as joy and sadness as she navigates Margot’s complex relationships with her family and the mysterious Harry. Interweaving period-specific cultural customs with deeply human emotions, she creates a world where personal struggle meets public expectations, allowing the reader to discover that even after the storm of war there can still be room for healing and redemption.

The Silent Stars Go By is an uplifting and touching read. Through her emotionally-driven characters and enthralling plot twists, Sally Nicholls has crafted an inspiring and bittersweet story that captures the aftermath of war in all its bittersweet glory. Highly recommended.

Starting the year by catching up with a long-overdue review of this lovely little seasonal book. I read this just before Christmas in an attempt to finally read a book in the season it's set in and it definitely helped that I was in the holiday mood already when reading this!

Christmas historical fiction is not one I frequently read, so I was very curious about it as I was going into this book. I enjoyed the setting in Christmas 1919, the first after the end of the First World War, and I felt like the special occasion and the contrasting feelings of the characters were very well captured. I also liked the small English village setting, where everyone knows one another and there is a real sense of community - with all its challenges as well as the joys this can bring.

Margot was an interesting main character. She is guarding a heavy secret and has had to deal with a lot of pain, and I liked how tactfully some of the heavier themes were tackled (e.g. teenage pregnancy and emotional trauma/PTSD). Her relationships with her family and her presumed-dead-now-returned ex-fiancé are complicated and very realistic. She was certainly good to get to know, even though I found her to be extremely frustrating at times, though I won't go into more detail to avoid potential spoilers. The rest of the characters also remained very surface-level and lacked any significant depth, and that meant I wasn't very sold on the romance aspect of this either.

This was an issue I had with most of the book actually. The way it's structured makes it feel more like a connection of journal entries of episodes rather than a single story flowing smoothly, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, but ended up making this feel rather disjointed to me. It also felt like the book was dragging in quite a few places, which for a story this short is problematic.

Overall, this is a cute Christmas story. It's not bad but remains a bit too superficial for my liking even though this will probably not be an issue for younger readers.

This is a netgalley read that has sat on my digital TBR for nearly two years! Apologies to the author, publisher and netgalley for not reading and reviewing it sooner. Well, I really enjoyed this one. It’s a YA novel about 19 year old Margot, who after WWI is dealing with the aftermath of allowing her parents to raise her baby as their own (so he thinks of her as a sister not his mother). This came about because Margot unexpectedly found herself pregnant when she was 17 then she was told her fiancé was missing , presumed dead, in the war. Things get very complicated two years later when the fiancé turns up alive and wants to know why Margot called off their engagement. This was a sweet, easy, quick read which portrays the attitude of the times very well. In fact, in that respect it reminded me of Baby Love by Jacqueline Wilson. I would have liked the story to continue past where it stopped actually. Perhaps a sequel is in order? I would definitely read more from this author in the future. This will appeal to both adults and teens.

Not as good as I wanted it to be so I was left very underwhelmed. It's a shame as it sounded so good and I normally love this genre! But I just couldn't connect with it and it felt like such a drag to finish it

This was a pleasant read full of warmth and kindness. There were times when I found the pace a little too slow, but I was glad I persevered.

This is a really lovely historical YA novel set in and just after WW1. Beautifully written and very moving, it strikes just the right tone without being overly sentimental. I think my 14 year old daughter will enjoy reading it just as much as I have.
With grateful thanks to NetGalley and Andersen Press for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is outside my usual comfort zone. However it was beautifully written and really surprised me. This story was emotional, following a mother who wants to be there for her son but in the current situation is struggling to know how and what to do. The characters really shine in this book and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

This was a beautifully written piece of YA wartime fiction. The story is imaginative, truthful and nuanced. I flew through this book and was sad to reach the end.

This was such an amazing emotional read that tugs at your heartstrings from the first page to the last page. And the cover is so gorgeous!!

This book was set just after the second world war and gave a great insight into what life was like for people in this time. It was set at Christmas and would be a great seasonal read. This actually had quite a modern story for the time and I’m sure that this went on it was a bit refreshing to read all about it. It really came across that the family was really loving when others in the same situation would not be so lucky. It gave a great look into the larger family life and how rations etc had such an impact. I really enjoyed this read - great for adults and teens alike

A delightful story set just after the end of the First World War, Margot is the Vicar's daughter who has a secret. Will she be able to tell Harry what it is? If she does, how will he react?

The Silent Stars Go By is a lovely gentle read with a old fashioned air to it. Not because it's historical fiction, the writing vibes with a charming nostalgic feel. I loved the large Vicarage family and Margaret's supportive parents, and also how realistic and poignant the plot felt.

Margaret and Harry seemed to be doomed lovers but I had faith in these star crossed lovers. Throughout the book, I was totally invested in their relationship and my heart was bursting for them to somehow achieve happily ever after.

Sally Nicholls created characters that drew me and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books by her.

Recommended for YA and Historical Fiction fans.

I was so excited to read this because I loved Things A Bright Girl Can Do, but it definitely fell short. While Nicholls' writes characters so beautifully and genuinely, these felt a little basic and not quite as developed they could have been.

Set just after WW1, this fairly quick read centres around Margot, a young women who found herself pregnant as her fiancé was declared missing in action – when he returns safely can she tell him the truth or should she keep her secret? Ultimately this is a book about choices, consequences & coming to terms with them.
Margot isn’t particularly likeable, but we do see some good depictions of younger people coming to terms with WW1 (eg Stephen who returns from fighting unable to settle back into civilian life) and growing up at this time (eg Jocelyn & her “coming out”). The book captures some of the realities that surrounded young people at this time & is sensitively done for the Young Adult age group.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but it felt a bit superficial and I would like to have seen parts explored in more depth.