Heartwarming romance set in Somerset as an observatory is being decommissioned ready for demolition.

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist, who takes on a post over the summer to sort through and archive the remaining contents of the observatory before developers move in to develop the site into a new housing estate.

When she first bumps into Tristan they don't get off to the best start. He assumes she is a careless tourist, ill-dressed for the conditions and with an unruly dog he has to help rescue. Fortuitously, she is also staying next door to his grandma, who is able to employ a few little tactics to encourage their budding friendship and potential romance.

But as Charlotte sorts through the files she makes a surprising discovery, with links to a tragedy the family suffered years before.

A Sky Full of Stars is a heartfelt romance that features a unique premise and is set in an old observatory.

Charlotte travels around the country as an astronomical archivist. This summer she accepts a job in the village of Somerset where she will archive the contents of an old observatory before its demolition. She’s excited about preserving its treasures and meets Tristan who is managing the project. It turns out that Tristan has complicated feelings about the project and Charlotte’s work begins to expose the truth behind a family tragedy.

There’s a cute dog! (named Comet, of course!)

I enjoyed this unique and atmospheric setting! The author provides vivid descriptive details so that we can imagine ourselves in this abandoned observatory in an isolated setting. I also enjoyed the quaint community.

The author slowly unfolds this complicated family drama as Charlotte makes discoveries through her archival work. A Sky Full of Stars is an example of good balance between character-driven and plot-driven.

This heartfelt story includes many layers: a slow-burn romance with an entertaining first encounter (opposite of meet-cute), family tragedy, family secrets, grief, quaint rural community, family relationships, relatable characters, healing, and astronomy.

Content Consideration: death of parents (in the past)

Fans of a unique setting, complicated family drama, and slow-burn romance will likely enjoy this engaging and poignant story.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #ASkyFullOfStars upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Charlotte James is an astronomical archivist
So archiving an old observatory is a chance not to be missed.
Even though it mean working in an isolated place
Sorting it out before is demolished will set the pace.

There are complicated memories for many who live there
With family dramas and as well as history to share.
There are surprise findings and revelations, too,
As well as a mystery to work her way through!

A delightful dog, a lovely temporary landlady, too,
Grown up twins and so much to do.
Who'd have thought there'd also be a chance
For a truly heartwarming romance?

A story where discoveries made in the past
Are brought to light and understood at last.
There's grief, healing, love and danger, too
In this brilliant read I highly recommend to you!

For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Fay Keening is another author who is new to me. However I loved this book. Given that it had been endorsed by one of my favourite authors Jessica Redland I knew it would be a book I would enjoy. And I wasn't disappointed. From the first page to the last I couldn't put it down. Just when you thought you knew the direction in which the story was going you found that it was going off in an another unexpected direction. If you are a fan of astronomy then this is definitely a book for you. Astronomy, mystery, love and cute dogs all combine to make this a great read. I'll certainly be reading more of Fay's works.
#BookTour

It is set in a Somerset village and features a unique female protagonist, Charlotte. The book's astronomical details give it an intrinsic authenticity and depth, skillfully woven with family drama, tragedy, and mystery. I like the main characters, who have experienced emotional heartaches, the village setting, the community we get to know, the friendship and the gentle romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this arc.

I loved the astronomy parts of the story.  Charlotte's job is just so interesting and cool.  I have been a part of academe before so I kinda related to her a bit.  The competency and confidence in her job, how she knew about research ownership and authorship, knowing how and who to consult with, it just brought me back.  The constant presence of her loyal but sometimes naughty cocker spaniel, Comet (such a cool name!) is also one of things I liked about this book.  An MC who is a loving and responsible pet owner is immediately a big plus for me.

Having said that, it did start off a little slow. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two leads.  I feel like they were not compatible enough. The romance could've taken a backseat and it wouldn't affect how the story unraveled, and I did like it towards the end.  I was wondering what the conflict could be and I'm satisfied with the resolution. (of the plot, not the romance)

3.5 stars.This book had an interesting vocation for the protagonist. Charlotte is an astronomical archivest. She is dealing with records from an old observatory prior to it being demolished. It also had some other characters that were mostly members of the same family. They had their family secrets and drama, and Charlotte is put right in the middle of them. She is renting a cottage from the elderly grandmother. She's also attracted to the grandson.

This book seemed to drag in places. I just wasn't really invested in the plot or the characters.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the e-book. All thoughts are my own.

I had not heard about an Astronomical Historical Archivist before reading this book and I found the job very interesting. Charlotte has been tasked with clearing an old astromy station which has been closed up for nearly 30 years. In its prime it was the site of an important scientific discovery, but now it is in disrepair and due for demolition.
As Charlotte learns more about the site, she also discovers that her landlady has a huge connection to the site, and that her grandson is to oversee the development.
Well written with some very interesting facts, I enjoyed this read very much.

I don’t know how much you know about eclipsing binary stars and the way new astronomical discoveries are recorded and attributed – I certainly learned a lot as I read this book, but (worry not!) the author always keeps the science the right side of understandable. But it’s also simply fascinating – there’s something I always rather enjoy about a book that sends me into Google’s depths with a thirst to find out more. But this book, of course, has a romance at its heart – with mystery, drama, family complications aplenty – and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist (go on, you might like to google too…) attached to the University of North West Wessex’s Astronomy Department – but with summer on an empty campus ahead, and the need for some distraction from her recently broken heart, accepts a summer assignment to archive the records of a decommissioned and soon to be demolished observatory in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton. Her accommodation is the annex of Lorelei’s house, where she’s made particularly welcome – along with her characterful dog Comet, always at her side.

Her first contact with Tristan is less than auspicious – he’s the project manager for the housing development that will be built on the cleared site, and there’s a major misunderstanding about her right to be present on the rundown and dangerous site. But it turns out he’s one of the good guys at heart – and also one of Lorelei’s twin grandchildren, glad of her presence as the elderly lady seems to becoming increasingly confused. Their friendship grows, becoming a real and convincing romance – but Charlotte’s discoveries at the observatory threaten that, along with her strong sense of right and wrong, stirring up the past. Tristan has a particularly tragic family history, something he’s never fully come to terms with, and he’d far prefer that the memories remained buried.

All the characters in this book are beautifully drawn and developed – not just Charlotte and Tristan, both of whom I entirely took to my heart, but the supporting cast of friends, family and community too. The mystery that Charlotte uncovers certainly keeps the pages turning – deeply intriguing – and leads to some scenes of particularly well written drama. The author, as always, has a fine emotional touch – there’s plenty of lightness and laughter, real warmth to all the relationships (and I particularly shared the couple’s enjoyment of a day out in nearby Bristol, and the perfect spot where they shared their first kiss), but with some darker edges to the story sensitively handled and more than a touch of heartbreak.

And I have to say I thought it was the perfect start to a new series – with a few characters introduced whose stories are crying out for books of their own. I’ll be looking forward to more visits to Lower Brambleton – and this first-in-series is one I’d very much recommend.

A Sky Full of Stars by Fay Keenan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Charlotte James prefers having her head in the stars to having her feet on the ground.

Moving around for her job as an astronomical archivist gives Charlotte plenty of opportunity to avoid putting down roots. When she accepts a post in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition, all that is on her mind is a chance to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and another summer without having to settle down.

Tristan Ashcombe is managing the development of Observatory Field and as far as he’s concerned, the sooner the observatory is razed to the ground the better. The building holds complicated memories for him and his family, memories he’s ready to put behind him.

But as Charlotte’s work begins to unravel mysteries from a complex past, she realises that there’s more to Tristan and Lower Brambleton than first impressions would suggest. Will Charlotte discover more than she bargained for, will she manage to avoid losing her heart in the process or is her fate already written in the stars?

My Opinion

A Sky Full of Stars was such an interesting premise. Charlotte and Tristan were both likeable characters although my favourite character was definitely Comet the dog. Fay Keenan is an author that I enjoy reading and A Sky Full of Stars was no exception. A delightful read.

Rating 4/5

Fay Keenan has done it again with this heartwarming romance where astronomical archivist Charlotte James finds herself in Lower Brambleton. She is there to archive the contents of the observatory before it is demolished to make way for a new housing development. Tristan Ashcombe is the person responsible for managing the development and thinks that the sooner the observatory is demolished the better. It’s not long before Charlotte realises that there is a very emotional and complex history attached to the site. The first meeting between Charlotte and Tristan doesn’t go too well but as they get to know each and she starts to unravel the secrets of the observatory they become closer. I loved how the characters interacted and how the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments were described. It was obvious that Fay has done her research on the topic of astronomy and I found elements of this fascinating. Can’t wait for the next one in what promises to be another great series from one of my favourite authors. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This started well with a really original protagonist and an interesting setting. Charlotte is an astronomical archivist at Bristol University and she is sent to archive the records of an observatory which is about to be pulled down. Definitely an unusual start for a cosy romance!

The story however meets the normal cosy standard where boy meets girl, they don't like each other, they fall in love, there's a misunderstanding, they split up........etc. etc. Nothing wrong with that of course but it did go on for rather a long time and I was not sufficiently involved with either of the characters to care much. So for me it was just a pleasant, light read. Three stars.

Charlotte first runs into Tristan when he thinks she’s a trespasser. She’s really there to archive an old observatory.
This is a slow evolving story. It has a good bit of description and a mystery to solve. There’s some romance added into the mix.

Charlotte has been assigned to record and box up the contents of a disused observatory that's being knocked down to make way for a housing estate. But the developers aren't the enemy, which is handy when you find out who's in charge of the project: the estate will be small, sustainable and bring in much-needed affordable housing for young people in the Somerset village it's located in. Charlotte's staying in the annexe of a feisty older woman, Lorelei, and of course everyone's conected to both the observatory and its history and the redevelopment, or has a strong, sometimes surprising opinion.

Charlotte meets developer Tristan in an embarassing incident when her dog, Comet, escapes into the observatory (the dog is fine throughout the book and pops up in the epilogue, too) and their friendship slowly develops over a number of weeks as she works hard on the project and meets more of the villagers. There is of course a romance: it's sweet, consent-aware and open door but not too detailed.

I loved the interesting topic, the pull between science and emotion and all the scientific metaphors in the writing, which was very cleverly done. Events and relationships felt believable and it was about much more than the romance. A good read.

Blog review will publish 23 March 2025 https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/03/23/book-review-fay-keenan-a-sky-full-of-stars/

It was a real treat to discover a new book by Fay Keenan, and even better, it looks like the start of a new series. Charlotte is a fabulous, fiercely independent protagonist, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her. Her work at the University of Bath led to the opportunity to archive and log the records at an observatory in Somerset, which is scheduled for demolition. She found a local holiday let in the annexe of a house in the local area and, accompanied by her little dog, slowly got to know her new landlady. We soon learn more about exactly how independent Charlotte is, and she really doesn’t need a man to complete her life.
Tristan is focused on project managing the demolition of the observatory at Lower Brambleton and overseeing the construction of the new housing development on the site. The hardest part of his responsibilities is the complicated memories that are wrapped up with the site’s past. I really took to Tristan and felt myself hoping that he would find the closure that he was clearly craving and lay the ghosts of his past to rest.
The clear but initially restrained attraction between Tristan and Charlotte made for a delicious romance that was equal parts perfect and messy. I particularly adored digging deeper into their shared connection. Although it may have seemed initially tenuous, the way their shared connection grew stronger was beautifully managed. Their reasons for being cautious were well-founded and totally relatable.
There are a number of terrific characters that we meet in this book that I can already imagine featuring in future stories. In particular, I would love to see Tristan’s sister find her happily ever after.
I’m always in awe of the skills of the authors from Boldwood Books and have thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the amazing books that they have created. I certainly enjoyed learning more about the stars, even though my husband used to love visiting his local observatory.

TLDR: An enjoyable read. The interwoven history, mystery and relationship development was done well and kept the story from feeling like plot points were being put to the side.

Spoiler free review:
In A Sky Full of Stars we have a two person split POV story told from the POV of Charlotte (FMC) and Tristan (MMC). Charlotte is an astronomy archivist who gets a summer assignment sorting through and archiving the remnants left at a once prominent but now defunct observatory slated for demolition in a small town in the British countryside. As she begins to develop relationships with some of the towns people, she starts to uncover more of the history of the observatory and unearths a long buried mystery. Tristan is managing the development of the land the observatory is on. He has past memories of the observatory that he is ready to put behind him and sees this project as a way to do that. Demolition of the observatory is all that is standing in the way of starting the build and putting the memories to rest.

Present day events in this book took place over a fairly short period of time but the pacing never felt rushed. The descriptions of the settings, while long, did make it easy to picture where the story was taking place. The interwoven history, mystery and relationship development kept me reading because I wanted to find out more about what was being unearthed despite the characters feeling a little flat to me and it also kept the book from feeling like one aspect of the story was more important than the other. Overall, I enjoyed this read.

Thank you Boldwood Books for the early reader copy.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Charlotte enjoys her job, as an astronomy archivist, and most of the time she works alone.

She moves to a village in Somerset for a new job which she thinks won’t take her long to do and hopefully will be back in her own surroundings.

But, after only a short time, Charlotte begins to enjoy being in the village and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

She’s also not sure of how she feels when she meets Tristan. Whilst she’s sorting out the documents to be sent for archiving, she finds some documents that concern the relations of her landlady.

Should she make her aware of what Charlotte has uncovered or keep it to herself? If she does tell, how does that impact on her feelings for Tristan?

I highly recommend this book.

A new series by a brilliant author. Yes I'm in.
The warmth and depth that these characters are written with makes you really feel you could know them,or picturing them doing about their storybook lives.
Charlotte is an astronomy archivist. She's used to relying on herself and most of time is just by herself. After accepting a new job in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton she thinks she will be in and out as usual. It's just a place. Just a job. Right? Nope.
Soon this little village seepsninto her skin. And new and wonderful ways. But at the same time confusing ways. She's not used to this. She is certainly not used to what she's feeling upon meeting and having close proximity to Tristan.
And then Charlotte comes across a mystery. Can she keep this possible thing quiet to protect those involved. Will it impact her and her new found feeling for Tristan, or her future. And what about how this place isn't just a job anymore. Definitely not adding a cute dog into the mix!

3.7 Stars
One Liner: A bit slow but nice

Charlotte is an astronomy archivist used to spending most of her time alone in old buildings, trying to digitize records and save them for the future. She accepts another such job in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition. It’s just another place for her, though quite a few locals are more than happy for the building to be razed so that they can move on.
Tristan Ashcombe is one such man. While the first impressions weren’t great, Tristan and Charlotte soon find themselves drawn to each other. As Charlotte finds something unusual in the old records, it presents a possibility of something significant for her and Tristan, but not without some risk.
The story comes in Charlotte (more %) and Tristan’s third-person POVs.
*
The story started slow and had the same pace almost throughout. However, I did like the descriptions of the place so it wasn’t boring. Locals might find it excessive but I like it when I can visualize a new setting.
The FMC’s career and her approach to it are well-presented. I like that she tries to balance between documenting and digitizing the past but not getting too attached to it.
Comet, the cocker spaniel is adorable! Cute dogs are always a plus in books. There are cute kids too, though we don’t meet them much.
The MMC is a grump with a golden heart and past trauma. It doesn’t take long for him to show his softer side.
However, the romance between the couple doesn’t feel organic. It’s too fast, with not enough chemistry to create the impact it should. Maybe they felt it but I couldn’t see it. Also, this should have been a slow burn.
The sort of mystery about the past had my attention coz it seemed like it had better potential than the love track. Do note that the mystery is not in the thriller sense but in the family drama vibe.
While there is a third-act breakup, it makes sense here. The message that it’s not our responsibility to ‘heal others’ but they should make an effort for themselves is spot on.
We get an epilogue too, which gives us a nice HEA. Another aspect I like is how development is not always damaging. Here, it creates the required infrastructure and housing without damaging the surroundings. It’s all about finding the right balance.

To summarize, A Sky Full of Stars is an entertaining story though the romance could have been better. The family dynamics are well done, though!
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This felt like it had such a lot packed in that it slowed the pace right down and therefore sadly took the edge off the enjoyment. With romance, mystery, complicated relationships and a huge amount of detail all drawn out, it was too much for me. Some nice moments but only an OK read for me.