"A Sky Full of Stars" sounded like the kind of book I usually enjoy, but I didn't know the author and no one had rated it on Goodreads yet (as I had access to an advanced copy), so I had no idea what to expect. I ended up very pleasantly surprised!

This book is a lovely romance, with a hint of mystery, a bit of drama, and a well-rounded story that isn't only about love, but also about friendship, family, grief, and so much more. The two protagonists, Charlotte and Tristan, are very well developed, and endearing despite (or thanks to) their flaws. Charlotte's an astronomical archivist, and she has to archive the documents from a rural observatory that is going to be destroyed. The two characters definitely didn't have a meet-cute, and I wondered how Tristan would redeem himself after his first appearance in the story, but as we get to know him, we get to understand his complex character and the scars he hides. We also get to know his family and friends, who are also well developed, which is what we like to see in secondary characters!

Lastly, and I must really applaud this, because it is so rare in a romance (yet so relatable): Charlotte and Tristan, while attracted to each other, were still a bit nervous and hesitant every time they had to cross a new step in their relationship. Tristan would pepper his sentences with "er..." or would stumble on his words. This felt a lot more realistic than characters who jump into each others' arms without hesitation.

Finally, two big bonus points for me were the setting, which had a strong presence and really added to the story, and the very well researched topic of astronomy — the author seemed to have done an excellent and thorough research of this subject. Oh, and I also loved that it took place in rural England and was written by a Brit, it's a nice change from the American rom-coms I usually read.

I read this book in one sitting during a long, long flight/bus/train journey, and it got my head off the nightmarish journey, so it's high praise indeed! I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

This is quite different from my usual book choices. I’m not usually in to mystery vibes. But I enjoyed this one quite a bit. There’s a lot of emotion tied into the mystery of the scenario that the characters find themselves in and a lot of of hurt for many of the characters.
So much so that the majority of the characters see it as a cut and dry means to an end for our FMC to come in and clean out what is essentially an old observatory.
However, as with most small towns, she soon finds she’s fitting off quite a lot more than she can chew. And at this archiving is anything but cut and dry.
In its heart this book is about romance but it’s also about family, love, betrayal and what people are capable of.

I loved the astronomy aspect of this story. Rather than it just being about a budding romance, the story of the observatory took centre stage and made this a much more rounded read. It was poignant at times, but also amusing, and had you dreaming of summer in the English countryside. A real feel good book.

What a fascinating read. In addition to a beautifully written love story, set in an idyllic location, the author wove in so much information about a world I'd never read about. A superb read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Dr Charlotte James is a historical astronomical archivist. She works in the Astronomy Department of the fictional North West Wessex University in Bristol and lives on campus, except for the summer holidays where she usually stays with her friend Gemma. This year, however, she has bagged herself a five week job archiving the records of the Observatory in small town Lower Brambleton in Somerset before it is being torn down to make way for a housing development. It pays well and even offers free accommodation for her and her spaniel Comet.

Her first reaction is to want to preserve the old building but her landlady, elderly Lorelai, and many community members are surprisingly very much in favour of the destruction of the old tumbledown observatory and the construction of new homes on the land. When Charlotte meets Tristan Ashcombe, Lorelai's grumpy grandson, she learns of the tragic events that befell the community 30 years earlier. And then she makes a surprising discovery that could change things but push some people over the edge.

I really liked that this isn't simply a romance but also teaches you interesting things about astronomy. I've learnt of the existence of eclipsing binary stars, and even though Im still not quite sure what they are and why they are a big thing, I loved the enthusiasm. The story also expertly deals with grief and mental health issues.

I loved most of the characters (except for the villain), even Todd the ex wasn't so bad. I also liked that there was barely any miscommunication, and the tour of Bristol really made me want to visit it.
Great book, great cover, and apparently the first in a brand new series. Can't wait for the next one!

4.5 stars

Cute and cozy romance with down to Earth characters who have real histories and emotions - and let's not forget a spaniel that steals the show.

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?