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A review by tracyt223
The Same Bright Stars: A Novel by Ethan Joella
5.0
Three generations of Schmidts have run their family’s beachfront restaurant, and Jack has been at the helm since his father's death. He puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can’t remember the last time he sat on the beach or enjoyed a moment to himself.
Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast, and it is pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands. Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders whether closing the door on the restaurant might open a window for him—but who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that it will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?
I really felt this novel was atmospheric with such vivid details of the town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I liked that this wasn't the typical beach that you often see in Summer reads. I had the pleasure of visiting the area for a quick day trip in 2019. This story made me really want to go back and spend more time here.
As always, Joella creates a wonderful cast of characters. This time the story was only told through Jack's point of view. I really felt such empathy for him all the way through and was rooting for his happy ending. He just seemed to have so much sadness in his life. I also enjoyed all of the side characters who enhanced the story. I was quite surprised by the twist that was revealed, I did not see that coming at all, and was so anxious to see where that part of the story would lead. And again, not where I thought it would, but I ended up loving that part in it's own way too.
I was so happy to receive this book early from @netgalley and @scribner as it was one of my most anticipated reads of the Summer. I look forward to reading whatever @joellawriting writes in the future, his books are always like a big, warm hug. Plus Joella is truly one of the nicest guys you will ever come across on the internet. He's always so active and engaged with his readers. This book was a delight from start to finish and I highly recommend picking it up when it releases on July 2, 2024!
Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast, and it is pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands. Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders whether closing the door on the restaurant might open a window for him—but who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that it will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?
I really felt this novel was atmospheric with such vivid details of the town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I liked that this wasn't the typical beach that you often see in Summer reads. I had the pleasure of visiting the area for a quick day trip in 2019. This story made me really want to go back and spend more time here.
As always, Joella creates a wonderful cast of characters. This time the story was only told through Jack's point of view. I really felt such empathy for him all the way through and was rooting for his happy ending. He just seemed to have so much sadness in his life. I also enjoyed all of the side characters who enhanced the story. I was quite surprised by the twist that was revealed, I did not see that coming at all, and was so anxious to see where that part of the story would lead. And again, not where I thought it would, but I ended up loving that part in it's own way too.
I was so happy to receive this book early from @netgalley and @scribner as it was one of my most anticipated reads of the Summer. I look forward to reading whatever @joellawriting writes in the future, his books are always like a big, warm hug. Plus Joella is truly one of the nicest guys you will ever come across on the internet. He's always so active and engaged with his readers. This book was a delight from start to finish and I highly recommend picking it up when it releases on July 2, 2024!