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kaser15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
tfischbach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Questions I would like to talk to someone about are:
1. The author treats one of the characters mental illness in a way that makes it appear relatively easy to overcome. Do you think that is realistic?
2. What would you do if you were in the same situation with a small child claiming to be an alien and who obviously is afraid to go home?
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
There are a lot of bad things that come up later in the book, but you know it's coming. That's the mystery. Why is this girl here?avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
Minor: Dementia
pursuing_metanoia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
cmm9200's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Where the Forest Meets the Stars" follows Joanna Teale, a woman who just recently lost her mother and who is trying to heal from her own battle with breast cancer. Jo is a grad student and wants nothing more than to finish her degree and get some control back in her life, but that becomes threatened when a little girl, Ursa, shows up at her home. Ursa claims to be an alien who cannot return to her home planet until she has witnessed five miracles. Jo tries to do the right thing and see if Ursa was reported missing, but she cannot find anyone who seems to know who this Ursa is. Jo befriends her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel, to try to have him help her get Ursa back home, but the pair quickly realize that Ursa may have been sent to them for a bigger purpose.
This was a really beautiful story that is rife with messages about the beauty of life and choosing how to react to the misfortunes around you. Ursa was by far my favorite character, and I was rooting for her and her story from her initial introduction. The way that she sees life, even after everything she has been through, is beautiful, and I loved how she was so focused on seeing the good in the world around her.
Gabriel suffers with his mental health, and I really appreciated how his character was represented. Additionally, I really liked how his struggles were presented. Male mental health is still not talked about nearly as much as it should be, and I think it is so invaluably important to see strong male characters presented and show an accurate portrayal of the struggles they may be facing.
Jo's character was slightly more off-putting from the beginning. She is very cold and closed off because of the obstacles she has faced in her life. I struggled to connect with her, however I did end up enjoying her story arch and how her and Gabriel, along with her and Ursa interacted. Ursa was exactly what Jo needed in her life to help remind her to truly live.
The biggest turn off for me in this book was the alien angle. I am not really into space and aliens, so having a character claim to be an alien did not hook me. Ultimately, I was fine with where the story went, and I appreciate the risk the author took in this angle, but it just did not hit 100% for me personally.
Overall, I do recommend this book to anyone who needs reminded to look at the moments of beauty in the world around them.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
noveltay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
eheath08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
cin19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
sarahmaemae's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail