Caren J. Werlinger

Ok, this is hard to review but I'll try. I adored the first book, adored it.

This is good, but not great. not as good as the first. But we get to revisit old friends and we get different POV.

A lot was glossed over, or faded to black; not just sex either, but other important events too. Also I didn't realize that this romance was MF, not FF. ugh. I do not like het romance and would not have read this had i known. But that being said, we don't really get much romance or interaction from the MC, if aidan and meredith even are the the MC (i don't think they are). the MF romance was really just a footnote.

We do get more of molly and kathleen/katie which is nice, but again all sex was off screen and things moved so quickly it didn't have the same depth as the first book.… (meer)

At first, I was lost for words when I tried to express my thoughts about "When the Stars Sang". Because this remarkable book deals with several themes, all of which captivated me. But the most intriguing ones for me were discovering your true self and your way to personal happiness. Those subjects alone would make me choose this book. The fact that the plot takes place mainly on a remote island was the icing on the cake.

The island in question is called "Little Sister", which is off the coast of Maine. The island's inhabitants are eccentric characters whose lives primarily take place in their few localities. Vast beaches and cliffs, usually hit by strong winds, characterise Little Sister. Furthermore, the residents live mainly in a handful of old cottages, which they maintain and care for themselves, with little help from outside. Their unconditional cohesion, solidarity and personal bond particularly portray the islanders. They have cultivated their unique culture and spiritual rituals for many decades and have practised them ever since.

One of the two main characters is Kathleen. Fleeing a troubled relationship, she moves into her late grandmother's cottage on Little Sister. Kathleen is desperate to free herself from the hands of her toxic family and relationship so she can finally live her life in a self-determined way.

Shortly afterwards, she meets Molly, a native Islander. She is the island's sheriff and works as a handyman, helping the residents with repairs around the house. Molly is less than enthusiastic about the out-of-town Kathleen, whose family history and past turn the island upside down bit by bit.

But it's the bond between the islanders and Kathleen's acceptance as a new resident that brings them even closer together. The fact that she too falls in love gives her the happy ending she deserves so much. All this helps Kathleen come to terms with her past and eventually find her way to self-discovery and her unapologetic self.

This story really captivated me. The author told the island's history in such incredible detail I couldn't put the book down.

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Read more reviews on my blog WordsAndFiction.… (meer)