You may turn your nose up when you read the synopsis of this book- Roswell? UFOs? Stigmata? I put all my skepticism aside since Olivia Hawker is an auto-read author for me and this novel did NOT disappoint. Ultimately this is a story about spirituality, science, and the search for love and the truth. I had both the kindle version and audio version of this book and enjoyed both immensely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1947, Roswell, New Mexico, this story from historical events surrounding an unidentified object that landed in a field. While the government claims it was weather balloon, some workers witness phenomena and discover objects they cannot explain. One of the central characters is a teenage girl named Betty Campbell. Her life is forever altered when her father brings a fragment from the site.

Sister Mary Agnes is sent to Roswell to establish monastery and guide the community back to God. Her interactions Betty and the worker tasked with repairing the sisters' farmhouse Sister Mary Agnes’s faith and everything holds true. It is a captivating tale and well worth reading.

Thank you NettGalley for this copy.

There were a few times when I was reading this book that I felt a bit uncomfortable with the direction that the book was moving in, but overall I think the author did a good job of melding two very controversial topics.
The story is set in the mid-1940's in the US town of Roswell. Roger Campbell is in the US army and based at Roswell. When a 'UFO' comes down in the desert he is on the recovery team with his friend Harvey Day a radar operator, with whom he served in WW2. Both men are shocked at what is found in the desert and how the army chooses to handle it. This event then goes on to create big changes in both men's lives.
For Roger, it comes through his teenage daughter Betty. Roger defies orders and takes a small piece of metal from the mysterious object which he shows to Betty who then develops stigmata. This brings the Catholic Church and a well intentioned nun called Sister Mary Agnes into their lives.
The book does not move in a straight trajectory, but details the lives of Betty, Roger, Harvey and Mary Agnes who are all looking for meaning in the mysteries that they are presented with.
The story is beautifully told, but I can imagine it will be confronting and upsetting for many as religion and science fiction come together in an unusual but intriguing story.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

Well this was different!
Not my usual genre and totally different for what I thought was science fiction.
I enjoyed it and I enjoyed the characters more, and the fact it was more historical fiction.
The authors note at the end really made it worthwhile too.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

1947 and the setting is a cloistered order of nuns. Sister Mary Agnes is joining a group of nuns and after twelve years is going to be an external- the person who will be the face of the convent, allowed to interact with outsiders and the community at large. The town of Roswell is a military base and almost every family has links of some kind to the military.

A crash of an aircraft brings the attention of the military who swoop in. Strangely there is no media hype and it is classified as a weather balloon. But the farmer on whose land it crashed knows that it is something else, and so does the officer sent to investigate. Sister Mary Agnes’s involvement starts with a young girl displaying signs of stigmata, after the incident. Inexplicable and incomprehensible, the church itself is dismissive of the affair. With no support from anyone Sister Mary Agnes is the only support for the Campbells as she does believe what she sees. A good bit of historical fiction, a touch of romance and a look into the lives of a cloister, so far removed from modern life. The fact that some things are beyond human understanding is also a feature of this story.

The authors note at the end of the book was an interesting addition to what is anyway a very unusual st

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

An unusual historical fiction that explores faith and science, and finding the ability to speak up. Roswell, New Mexico, is not a place that I find myself venturing very often in my literary travels. It was the cover, admittedly, that drew me to request this title. Taking readers back to 1947 and a mystery surrounding a girl experiencing stigmata, along with a rumor of aliens, was a truly fascinating subject for a Saturday morning. I wouldn't think they would go together, BUT they did in a cleverly crafted story.

The Stars and Their Light sounds like it would be very much grounded in the roots of science fiction. Yet, it is also grounded very much in the historical and the spiritual. It is the latter that most surprised me. Quite frankly, I enjoyed that exploration and feel this is a good book club selection. Lots of conversations and reactions when reading a book like this.

For most of the book, my focus was on the teenager, Betty Campbell, and not the nun, Mary Agnes. Please note, I don't read the synopsis of the book when requesting just the taglines, and oftentimes, I forget what was described. 😂 This made it an absolutely treat of a read to experience.

In addition, I enjoyed the author's note, and while Olivia Hawker states her books don't usually follow this type of vein, I would be intrigued to seek out her other titles.






#TheStarsandTheirLight #NetGalley
Publication Date 01/04/25
Goodreads Review 07/04/25

The Stars and Their Light is a historical novel which takes the conspiracy theories of an extraterrestrial spacecraft crash landing in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 as its inspiration. Teenager Betty Campbell's father works for the Military and is among those who rush to the crash site. Very quickly the Military dismiss all thoughts of a UFO, stating it was simply a weather balloon that crashed, however for the residents of Roswell this incident has brought about a crisis of faith. Suddenly the stars seem more appealing than God and heaven. A few weeks later Sister Mary Agnes of the Poor Clares arrives with some of her fellow Nuns to open a monastery in the town. Mary Agnes befriends Betty, who has been impacted both mentally and physically by the earlier events. Betty has become an outcast in the town since she experienced stigmata after touching a fragment from the crash site.

This is a compelling and very cleverly crafted story about truth, becoming an outcast for sticking with your truth, faith and the anguish should that faith waiver. The writing is beautiful, the descriptions of the sightings of the 'craft' in the sky exquisite. The characterisations of both Betty and Mary Agnes are superb, their sense of angst as they struggle with their emotions is heartbreaking at times. For me, the conclusion is very satisfactory and the author's note at the back of the book is a definite must read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

Know about the “alleged” alien spaceship landing in Roswell, NM in the summer of 1947? Tie that together with the story of a young woman progressing through the stages of becoming a nun along with several people in Roswell personally affected by the Roswell Incident and you have the plot of this amazing new book by Olivia Hawker. At first the book is all about Roswell and the town folk which is intriguing if you have read about this Incident and what happened that night (no, folks, it wasn’t a weather balloon).

As you get farther into the book the contrasts between the reality of the possibility of other life in the universe collide right into the Catholic Church’s unyielding belief in what it has set forth as its highly controlling “believe it or go to hell” patriarchal mentality. When a young Roswell girl experiences a physical reaction to what happened at Roswell, an investigating bishop and priest immediately say she is not holy or religious enough to have encountered a miracle according to their standards. “If it doesn’t look like the miracles our mother church describes, then it isn’t a miracle at all”. The nun ruminates “Surely Mother Catherine had been right when she’d said that these men, ordained by God to lead with wisdom and discernment, wouldn’t steer this church into falsehood.” “It challenges what they already believe to be true, and they’re afraid. They’re afraid of losing their faith over it”.

The mystery that is religion at its heart meets the cold clarity of truth, and affects the town, the nuns, and the military stationed at Roswell. A fascinating take on people cowered into obedience versus the ability to look outward and accept other possibilities.

Be sure to read the Author's Note for great info into the author's thoughts about the book and research she has done.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this fine book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

My review of this book really reflects the importance of author’s notes. While I found the book to be fairly predictable and actually “cheesy” at times, reading the author’s explanation of how she paired the themes made me respect the story more. I have always found the Roswell incident to be fascinating and have visited the museum there twice ( not to be missed if traveling through that area). This version of the story was disappointing for me as it seemed that important aspects such as reports of actual aliens being found were left out. The actual incident was almost secondary to some seemingly weird religious overtones of which I was unfamiliar with. The cheesy parts come in with how the character of Betty is treated by the entire town as a result of her religious experience. I did find the history around the monastery and the Sisters of Clare to be fascinating especially since this place actually existed near Roswell. Sister Mary Agnes’s story was a bit too predictable for me. Overall, I wanted more about the actual alien incident, whether true or not but I appreciate the author’s take on the relationship between unexplained events and spirituality and religious beliefs. And this is a unique topic for historical fiction so this kind of creativity goes a long way.
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

The Stars and Their Light is a story about the response of a small town to the rumored landing of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947.
Four people, Harvey Day, a former Army radiographer, Sister May Agnes, the extern sister of the newly opened Poor Clares monastery, Jim Lucerno, a high school senior who dreams of entering CalTech to honor the memory his war-hero father, and Betty Campbell, a bright young girl who wants to study astrophysics, find their lives disrupted by the events of "that singular, strange year when a flying saucer had crashed to the earth."
Although it deals with something that is normally the subject of science fiction, this book is firmly rooted in history. It is, also, oddly, a deeply spiritual book, in which one character experiences stigmata, another must reevaluate her entire adult life, and one, whose life has been totally disrupted, discovers "a deep well of holy awe for the senseless and the unexplained."
The first few chapters didn't really grab me because they devote too much space to the fears of a narrow-minded man who allows anxiety to make him a tyrant. I found myself annoyed by this person's lack of self-awareness. A similar lack of self-awareness almost set me against another character who ended up being much braver than I'd expected. Before too long, however, I found myself enthralled with the story and very concerned about the fates of the main characters.
Readers who are firmly devoted to either organized religion, the military, or the government may have trouble enjoying this book as it takes a very antiestablishment stance. It also does wrap things up a bit too neatly, although I grew so fond of these people that I couldn't begrudge them their happiness.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was indeed "an unusual work of historical fiction" written by the gifted author, Olivia Hawker. I went into this book blind, not knowing what it was about, and I was very surprised to learn that it was about the people in the late 1940s in Roswell, New Mexico and their experiences with a UFO that crashes on a nearby ranch. However, this is not a science fiction story, which I thought it might be. It is very different yet totally engaging.

The characters are well-fleshed out and their stories are unique and compelling. By the end, readers may find themselves questioning some of the characters actions and reactions based on their own backgrounds, faith, and beliefs. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction who like to read unusual or contemplative stories.

I especially enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book. I loved learning about the reasons that led the author to write this book and all the research that was used to write it. I feel that the material would be fascinating for believers and nonbelievers alike.

My sincere thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Stars and their Light is historical fiction about the most unusual topics I’ve come across yet - the unexplained flying saucer crash in Roswell of 1947, combined with the opening of a monastery. It was exciting and refreshing to read about something different. While parts of the book were a bit slow, I grew to care about the characters and truly loved them by the end. The way Olivia Hawker presented the acceptance of studying questions over the need for explanations wrapped everything up nicely and I’m sure will leave me pondering this book for a long time.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

Overall Rating: 3⭐️
Spice Rating: 🔥🔥- Fade to Black
Language Rating: !
Reader Age: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Content Considerations: WWII

This book has a super interesting premise and I love how the author decided to tell the story through dated entries. This book also features a variety of POVs which really helped give the story dimension.
However, I struggled with the pacing of this book. It felt like a lot of build up to no where. There was very little resolution and the ending felt quite rushed compared to how slowly the rest of the story unfolded.

The Stars and Their Light is a luminous, exquisitely crafted novel. With elegant, evocative prose, Olivia Hawker dives into the events of Roswell in 1947, weaving a tale that blurs the boundaries between history, myth, and the unknowable. As an unidentified craft falls from the sky, the lives of those who witness it—scientists, soldiers, and ordinary townspeople—are irrevocably altered, their fates entwined with forces beyond their understanding. I won't soon forget Sister Mary Agnes, the newcomer who makes such a difference. A novel of beauty and insight, The Stars and Their Light illuminates one of history’s greatest mysteries.

I usually love this author’s books….but not this time. There were a lot of interesting aspects to this book….a post-war world, UFO sightings, and the changes wrought after years of war and an uncertain future. But the book felt flat to me, and I skimmed through huge chunks. Hopefully others will enjoy it more than I did.

The Stars and Their Light is an intriguing historical fiction story set in Roswell, NM, during the late 1940s, when a UFO was reported to have crashed in the area. Roger and Harvey are both called on to visit the crash site, and are affected by what they see in different ways. Roger brings home a small piece of metal from the site, and when it comes in contact with his daughter Betty, it causes an unexplained physical reaction. Soon after, the local church becomes involved in Betty’s life and Sister Mary Agnes befriends the girl. Mary Agnes has always struggled with her faith, and used the church as a way to hide from the choices she’s made in her life. But her encounter with Betty makes her question her commitment to the leaders of the church and what it means to follow her heart, and becoming the woman she was before she joined the order.

This was my first book by Olivia Hawker and I really enjoyed her writing. The combination of historical fiction, science fiction, and religious beliefs all make for a very compelling read. I liked that the book didn’t focus on the crash itself, but more on the effects it had on the people in the story.

Each of the main characters (Roger, Harvey, Betty, and Mary Agnes) were all well written, and they all experience different reactions to the crash. Hawker does a great job emotionally connecting the reader to each of the characters through their resulting coping mechanisms following the crash, and how each of their lives are turned upside down by the incident.

There is also a great Author’s Note at the end of the book that gives more information on Hawker’s own UFO sighting, and more historical documentation on the events that took place in Roswell during the 1947 crash. I definitely recommend not skipping over this part of the book.

If you are looking for a great read that explores the mysteries behind unexplained phenomenon and the complexities of its effects on everyday people and those in the government and military, then I would definitely recommend The Stars and Their Light.

A brilliant look at a fascinating piece of history. With her trademark lyrical prose, Olivia Hawker weaves a unique and riveting story about the unexplained, faith, and human nature that left me thinking long after I finished the book. Highly recommend!

This book was so much more that I thought it was going to be and it was so much better than I expected. I couldn't put it down and when life got in the way and I had to put it down, it was all I could think about. Amazing

Still processing this amazing book. You think it is about a UFO that crashing in Roswell in 1947, but it is so much more than that. It will make you think and wonder about themes and topics you thought you had opinions about, but now, time to rethink. A young girl, Betty, touches a piece of the ship that had crashed and experiences stigmata. Only her two best friends and a young nun believe her as the rest of the town thinks she is lying and shun her. The nun, Sister Agnes, has recently come from Chicago to help open a monastery in Roswell. She has questions about her faith and has to make some life changing decisions. When the army went to visit the crash site, one of the soldiers had to look inside the ship and his life has never been the same. I was intrigued by this story line because it makes you wonder about the world beyond ours.
In the author notes, she explains this book was inspired by her experience of something she saw in the sky that couldn't easily be explained when she was in her 20s. I love books that have that personal connection. These notes are not to be missed in detailing the book and background.
If you enjoy historical fiction and are looking for a book that is a little different and that will make you think, I highly recommend this one!
Rating is 4.5 stars.
#TheStarsandTheirLight #NetGalley #historicalfiction
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.