Libba Bray's Under the Same Stars is at heart the story of two young German girls, Sophie and Hanna, and how they disappeared on the night of the winter solstice in 1940, but it's more than that.

it's also the stories of American teenager 'Dallas' and punk wannabe Lena in the segregated Berlin of 1980 and New York students Miles and Chloe during the COVID lockdown of 2020.

Two couples on the verge of adulthood, like Sophie and Hanna, finding their way during periods of great change and oppression. Periods with surprising links to the disappearance and the events leading up to it

Throw in The Tale of the Hare and the Deer, an allegorical fable that subtly changes with each telling, and you have the perfect reminder that although history tends to repeat, hope, as ever, persists.

Thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and the author for an advance copy.

Under the Same Stars spans across three timelines and wraps us into a very emotional storyline. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and felt they were well developed. Libbra Bray takes her time to build each character, their lives and all that surrounds them. I would say read this with caution. All three timelines have very sad concepts because they all take place at dark times in history. Bray is able to establish hope and connection, even in those times.

This is a YA historical fiction and I could see it being used in schools for education. There is so much important commentary and empathy building, I think teachers and educators will be able to capitalize on. I learned a lot from this book and continue to realize scary parallels to today's current political environment. At times that factor felt nauseating. Under the Same Stars reminds us of the need of history to be heard. So many today are scared to look and allow history to repeat itself. (another reason why I hope this book gets used in schools)

All in all, this story is more historical fiction than anything else. The "magic" elements are more strong at the story then it falls squarely into a YA historical fiction. This is not typically my wheelhouse, however Bray wrote such a compelling story, I couldn't put it down. When you pick this up, you are in for the long haul, get something comforting as you bring to life the horror and hope of WW2 and the current political climate of today.

Everyone lives under the same stars and everyone has the right to love and freedom of choice! Unfortunately there are people who would deny others those rights. And that is when you need to step up and light the match to bring about change. That is what this wonderful book is about! Told from three viewpoints at three pivotal times (World War 2, the Berlin Wall, and during the pandemic), Sophie, Jenny, and Miles learn that they can be that spark and even though it might be hard, even to costing everything, it is so vitally important to stand, even when others are just going with the flow. There are so many emotions and feels, danger, love, sacrifice, secrets, betrayal, that this story just flows along nonstop!

This book has a great story, woven and connecting the three times and I loved it all, feeling the desperation in getting forgeries made to save the children, making music to defy the wall and all it stands for, and making sure justice is found for the ones trampled on and forgotten. Such a good message!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this amazing message of a story!

Another fantastic book from Bray. Very different from the Diviners series but just as compelling and rich with historical detail. Great characters and well handled triple timelines. Loved it.

I tore through this book and loved every second. I adore how totally different Libby Bray goes with each new book - this is totally different from the Diviners series and equally compelling. I was impressed by how well she handled the three timelines - typically one is more interesting than the others for me, but I found the settings of 1940s Germany, 1980s Germany, and 2020 New York and their characters all just as interesting.

A captivating read from start to finish, full of action, adventure, mystery and tension. I enjoyed every second of this - I think Libby Bray has another hit on her hands!

I loved the back and forth between the time frames in this novel: I loved how it explored the not much talked about Covid period and shows just how time may change but the universal themes and experiences are still the same