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The Silent Stars Go By
A beautiful, bittersweet WWI romance lights up an English village at Christmas with harrowing secrets, love lost and found, and the breathtaking power of forgiveness.
Vivid and achingly real, Sally Nicholls's latest historical romance explores the fallout from an unexpected pregnancy during the First World War. It's Christmastime, 1919. Three years before, seventeen-year-old Margot Allan, a respectable vicar's daughter, fell passionately in love. But she lost her fiancé, Harry, to the Great War. In turn, she gained a desperate secret, one with the power to ruin her life and her family's reputation, a secret she guards at all costs. Now Margot's family is gathering at the vicarage for the first time since the War ended. And Harry, it turns out, isn't dead. He's alive and well, and looking for answers. Can their love survive the truth? Based on the author's family history, this evocative and stirring exploration of the human and emotional side of war is young-adult historical fiction at its finest, written with the immediacy and understanding of the complexities of the human heart that are the hallmark of the author's work.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published November 5, 2020
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1421 people want to read
About the author
Sally Nicholls
44 books279 followers Sally Nicholls is a prize-winning British children's author. She was born and grew up in Stockton-on-Tees. On finishing school, Nicholls chose to travel around the world. Her first novel was Ways to Live Forever.
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January 2, 2023I wanted to love this one, but I felt just okay about it. The writing of it was interesting, it was kind of like snapshots or diary entries, but that kept the story feeling very surface level. I was so excited for a Christmas historical fiction, and I wouldn't say I disliked this one but it definitely was harder for me to get into than I expected. I think it's a pretty easy holiday historical fiction if that's what you're looking for, but it was just alright for me.
October 27, 2021
4+
As Christmas approaches in 1919, nineteen year old Margot boards a train home from Durham to Thwaite in the Yorkshire Dales. She worries over the big secret she’s kept from Harry Singer who she becomes engaged to before he sets off to the Western Front. When Harry goes missing, presumed dead her family rallies round so her reputation remains untarnished. Now miraculously, Harry has returned home and Margot faces a terrible dilemma.
I think this story is as lovely as the beautiful cover and you find yourself absolutely immersed in Margot’s life and that of her family in the genteel poverty of the large ramshackle vicarage. You are swept back to the era through the language used which is spot on and very evocative. It’s colourful with all the characters and the times captured with broad brush stokes which paints a vivid picture before your eyes. The writing is so vivid it seems as if you are right there in the post war era with all its issues of loss, of recovery, of suffering but you are also at the centre of village life which is reflected in the different strata of society. I really like Margot, she’s full of courage and love with a perception and wisdom beyond her years. Her conflicted thoughts are palpable, you feel her ache and her pain. Her tension especially with the prospect of meeting Harry with all the various permutations builds really well and you have no idea what the outcome will be. The run up to Christmas and into the New Year is a perfect backdrop for the novel and part of this is heartwarming but also nostalgic and sad when you reflect on what could have been, what has been lost especially during the traumatic war years.
Overall, it’s a thoughtful, touching, poignant book with very relatable characters most of whom are very young and have experienced the worst of times and though it’s set a hundred years ago many of the issues are the same as today. It will appeal to all reading audiences not just YA or lovers of Historical Fiction.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Andersen Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
As Christmas approaches in 1919, nineteen year old Margot boards a train home from Durham to Thwaite in the Yorkshire Dales. She worries over the big secret she’s kept from Harry Singer who she becomes engaged to before he sets off to the Western Front. When Harry goes missing, presumed dead her family rallies round so her reputation remains untarnished. Now miraculously, Harry has returned home and Margot faces a terrible dilemma.
I think this story is as lovely as the beautiful cover and you find yourself absolutely immersed in Margot’s life and that of her family in the genteel poverty of the large ramshackle vicarage. You are swept back to the era through the language used which is spot on and very evocative. It’s colourful with all the characters and the times captured with broad brush stokes which paints a vivid picture before your eyes. The writing is so vivid it seems as if you are right there in the post war era with all its issues of loss, of recovery, of suffering but you are also at the centre of village life which is reflected in the different strata of society. I really like Margot, she’s full of courage and love with a perception and wisdom beyond her years. Her conflicted thoughts are palpable, you feel her ache and her pain. Her tension especially with the prospect of meeting Harry with all the various permutations builds really well and you have no idea what the outcome will be. The run up to Christmas and into the New Year is a perfect backdrop for the novel and part of this is heartwarming but also nostalgic and sad when you reflect on what could have been, what has been lost especially during the traumatic war years.
Overall, it’s a thoughtful, touching, poignant book with very relatable characters most of whom are very young and have experienced the worst of times and though it’s set a hundred years ago many of the issues are the same as today. It will appeal to all reading audiences not just YA or lovers of Historical Fiction.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Andersen Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 1, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
The Silent Stars Go By is a beautiful YA historical story about Margot, and the baby she gave up when her fiancé Harry is declared missing in action during the First World War. Now Harry has returned for Christmas, a different man to the boy who went to war, and Margot must decide whether to risk telling him the truth.
This was a quiet story in many ways, yet packed an emotional punch. Margot, at seventeen, feels a lot older than her years. One of five children to a vicar, she's grown up sheltered in a small village, yet has already faced one of the hardest decisions of her life. Her son, James, is now raised by Margot's parents and sees them as his mother and father. There's jealousy on Margot's part, and an unconditional love she can't show James in front of others incase it risks exposing her secret. There's grief, a loss that she can never be to James what she wants to be. She's grieving for a life she can never have. It leads to a difficult relationship between Margot and all her family, with all of them on tenterhooks at times, although it's clear that all the siblings are close.
Her relationship with Harry feels realistic and tinged with tension. She's anxious about seeing him, after shunning his letters in finding out he's still alive. How can she possibly tell him he has a son, but it's a son he can never admit he has? Every conversation is tinged with sadness and longing, furtive looks and loaded comments. They're never left on their own, adding to this building of tension between them. A few times I was desperate for Margot to just tell Harry the truth.
The book also does a good job at tackling the issues of PTSD for returning soldiers. The plot of Margot's eldest brother returning to the family for Christmas after time at the front sits in the background of the story with comments about how he can no longer keep down a job, or feel like life is worth anything. It's just one example of how life has irreversibly changed for everyone because of the war - like the fact that there aren't enough eligible men anymore. The bells ringing for the first time in years to ring in Christmas morning was a particularly poignant scene, as the family had forgotten the constant peel of the bells to mark important events. With the return of men from the war, there's finally enough of them to ring the bells again. It marked a new beginning.
Beautifully written story, with a plot that quietly draws the reader in with its relatable and complicated characters and exploration of post war Britain from a teenager's perspective.
The Silent Stars Go By is a beautiful YA historical story about Margot, and the baby she gave up when her fiancé Harry is declared missing in action during the First World War. Now Harry has returned for Christmas, a different man to the boy who went to war, and Margot must decide whether to risk telling him the truth.
This was a quiet story in many ways, yet packed an emotional punch. Margot, at seventeen, feels a lot older than her years. One of five children to a vicar, she's grown up sheltered in a small village, yet has already faced one of the hardest decisions of her life. Her son, James, is now raised by Margot's parents and sees them as his mother and father. There's jealousy on Margot's part, and an unconditional love she can't show James in front of others incase it risks exposing her secret. There's grief, a loss that she can never be to James what she wants to be. She's grieving for a life she can never have. It leads to a difficult relationship between Margot and all her family, with all of them on tenterhooks at times, although it's clear that all the siblings are close.
Her relationship with Harry feels realistic and tinged with tension. She's anxious about seeing him, after shunning his letters in finding out he's still alive. How can she possibly tell him he has a son, but it's a son he can never admit he has? Every conversation is tinged with sadness and longing, furtive looks and loaded comments. They're never left on their own, adding to this building of tension between them. A few times I was desperate for Margot to just tell Harry the truth.
The book also does a good job at tackling the issues of PTSD for returning soldiers. The plot of Margot's eldest brother returning to the family for Christmas after time at the front sits in the background of the story with comments about how he can no longer keep down a job, or feel like life is worth anything. It's just one example of how life has irreversibly changed for everyone because of the war - like the fact that there aren't enough eligible men anymore. The bells ringing for the first time in years to ring in Christmas morning was a particularly poignant scene, as the family had forgotten the constant peel of the bells to mark important events. With the return of men from the war, there's finally enough of them to ring the bells again. It marked a new beginning.
Beautifully written story, with a plot that quietly draws the reader in with its relatable and complicated characters and exploration of post war Britain from a teenager's perspective.
January 13, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
YA Historical Fiction The Silent Stars Go By is an elegant story of a young woman who has been through so much in her life. Set just after the First World War, Margot Allan fell pregnant by her fiancé Harry who was drafted to fight in the war. When Harry is declared ‘Missing in Action’, Margot presumes he has died and with no husband to help her raise a child the decision was made to pass the child off as her mother’s.
Harry is found but injured and when Margot returns to the family home for Christmas the two are within one another’s presence, up to now Margot has been avoiding him. How can she tell him what happened and what she did to their child?
The story is very sweet even if not a lot happens. It was like an episode of The Waltons, where the story is all about the family just being family. Talking to one another, getting advice from elders, enjoying Christmas as well as Margot’s inner turmoil as to what to do for the best of her child, the man she still loves, and herself. Plus, the impact of the war on them all, especially those that fought on the frontline.
The book shows the harsh reality of what life was like in the olden days. It shows how much we have moved on with the times and come to accept that an unmarried woman can have a child, whether with someone else or bringing the child up alone. In the era the book is set in, this was highly frowned upon and brought great shame on not only the mother but the extended family too.
The book is beautiful, sophisticated, and was a fabulous read. The characters were certainly realistic as was the era and setting. It was like stepping back in time. If you love historical fiction, this is certainly one to pick up.
YA Historical Fiction The Silent Stars Go By is an elegant story of a young woman who has been through so much in her life. Set just after the First World War, Margot Allan fell pregnant by her fiancé Harry who was drafted to fight in the war. When Harry is declared ‘Missing in Action’, Margot presumes he has died and with no husband to help her raise a child the decision was made to pass the child off as her mother’s.
Harry is found but injured and when Margot returns to the family home for Christmas the two are within one another’s presence, up to now Margot has been avoiding him. How can she tell him what happened and what she did to their child?
The story is very sweet even if not a lot happens. It was like an episode of The Waltons, where the story is all about the family just being family. Talking to one another, getting advice from elders, enjoying Christmas as well as Margot’s inner turmoil as to what to do for the best of her child, the man she still loves, and herself. Plus, the impact of the war on them all, especially those that fought on the frontline.
The book shows the harsh reality of what life was like in the olden days. It shows how much we have moved on with the times and come to accept that an unmarried woman can have a child, whether with someone else or bringing the child up alone. In the era the book is set in, this was highly frowned upon and brought great shame on not only the mother but the extended family too.
The book is beautiful, sophisticated, and was a fabulous read. The characters were certainly realistic as was the era and setting. It was like stepping back in time. If you love historical fiction, this is certainly one to pick up.
January 31, 2023
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The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls is a beautifully written book. It takes you back to a 1919 Christmas setting and leaves your heart warm, days after you’ve finished it. Thank you to Kaleidoscopic Tours and Andersen Press, for sending me a copy of this book, alongside all the amazing goodies as well.
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Margot Allan was a respectable vicar’s daughter and madly in love with her fiance Harry. But when Harry was reported Missing in Action from the Western Front, and Margot realised she was expecting his child, there was only one solution she and her family could think of in order to keep that respectability. She gave up James, her baby son, to be adopted by her parents and brought up as her younger brother.
Now two years later the whole family is gathering at the Vicarage for Christmas. It’s heartbreaking for Margot being so close to James but unable to tell him who he really is. But on top of that, Harry is also back in the village. Released from captivity in Germany and recuperated from illness, he’s come home and wants answers. Why has Margot seemingly broken off their engagement and not replied to his letters? Margot knows she owes him an explanation. But can she really tell him the truth about James?
My Thoughts:
I loved The Silent Stars Go By as a whole. Margot is an amazing character, and I felt for her many times throughout the book. The love story between her and Harry was so beautiful and pure. A love like that is so hard to find in today’s world, and this is perfect for those romantics out there, that strive for loves like their grandparents had. I loved the letters and the communication between them. It’s so refreshing, compared to today’s relationship drama. It reminded me of my late grandparents, who would always have something to talk about, and do little things about each other. Not for the public, or for their social media, but just for their significant other.
Considering the secret Margot and her family had, I was expecting more emotions, drama and pushbacks. But I am glad things happened the way they did. And even though the ending was emotional and painful, it’s also heartwarming and full of hope.
“Father once said,” she said thoughtfully, “that it never does to compare your troubles to other people’s. That grief is grief, and you can’t know how heavy someone else’s is unless you carry it.”
A certain topic floated to the surface in this book. And even though not a main plot discussion, it’s a very important one to mention. There were times, before 1926, when adoption was illegal in Britain. Even though orphanages excited, the mother always remained the legal guardian of her child. Sadly, many of the mothers weren’t told this information, and they believed they lost all rights to ever see their child again. The book briefly touched on this topic, and I really wish that it focused a bit more. Nevertheless, it was mentioned, and it is worthy of noting.
The Silent Stars Go By is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s so beautiful and real, with a Christmas to top it all up.
The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls is a beautifully written book. It takes you back to a 1919 Christmas setting and leaves your heart warm, days after you’ve finished it. Thank you to Kaleidoscopic Tours and Andersen Press, for sending me a copy of this book, alongside all the amazing goodies as well.
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Margot Allan was a respectable vicar’s daughter and madly in love with her fiance Harry. But when Harry was reported Missing in Action from the Western Front, and Margot realised she was expecting his child, there was only one solution she and her family could think of in order to keep that respectability. She gave up James, her baby son, to be adopted by her parents and brought up as her younger brother.
Now two years later the whole family is gathering at the Vicarage for Christmas. It’s heartbreaking for Margot being so close to James but unable to tell him who he really is. But on top of that, Harry is also back in the village. Released from captivity in Germany and recuperated from illness, he’s come home and wants answers. Why has Margot seemingly broken off their engagement and not replied to his letters? Margot knows she owes him an explanation. But can she really tell him the truth about James?
My Thoughts:
I loved The Silent Stars Go By as a whole. Margot is an amazing character, and I felt for her many times throughout the book. The love story between her and Harry was so beautiful and pure. A love like that is so hard to find in today’s world, and this is perfect for those romantics out there, that strive for loves like their grandparents had. I loved the letters and the communication between them. It’s so refreshing, compared to today’s relationship drama. It reminded me of my late grandparents, who would always have something to talk about, and do little things about each other. Not for the public, or for their social media, but just for their significant other.
Considering the secret Margot and her family had, I was expecting more emotions, drama and pushbacks. But I am glad things happened the way they did. And even though the ending was emotional and painful, it’s also heartwarming and full of hope.
“Father once said,” she said thoughtfully, “that it never does to compare your troubles to other people’s. That grief is grief, and you can’t know how heavy someone else’s is unless you carry it.”
A certain topic floated to the surface in this book. And even though not a main plot discussion, it’s a very important one to mention. There were times, before 1926, when adoption was illegal in Britain. Even though orphanages excited, the mother always remained the legal guardian of her child. Sadly, many of the mothers weren’t told this information, and they believed they lost all rights to ever see their child again. The book briefly touched on this topic, and I really wish that it focused a bit more. Nevertheless, it was mentioned, and it is worthy of noting.
The Silent Stars Go By is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s so beautiful and real, with a Christmas to top it all up.
November 2, 2024
4⭐️ = Good
Audio.
This is down as a book for teens, and yes, the storyline is gentle,simple and predictable but a really lovely read all the same. I’m sure many adults will enjoy reading this and see that many of you have.
It centres around an eighteen year old lady who had a child at sixteen but I will say no more.
Audio.
This is down as a book for teens, and yes, the storyline is gentle,simple and predictable but a really lovely read all the same. I’m sure many adults will enjoy reading this and see that many of you have.
It centres around an eighteen year old lady who had a child at sixteen but I will say no more.
June 17, 2024
4.25 stars
A friend of mine recommended this book so I decided to try it. The Silent Stars Go By is set post World War I and is about Margot, a young (nineteen I think) woman who gave up her child for adoption—by her parents. She was sixteen when James was born and had no means of support, nor did she feel she could cause a scandal—her father was the vicar. And her parents were good parents and she knew they would be good to James. Nevertheless it was really hard, she loved her son very much.
The book starts when Margot comes home to visit for the holidays (she left to become a typist so as to not intrude on her parents adoption of her biological son) . She’s been back before but this time James is two and at first he doesn’t recognize her. But the bigger problem is that Harry, his biological father, is now back from the war and arriving in town soon.
Margot and Harry fell in love almost at first sight, but then he went off to the war. When she discovered she was pregnant, he was missing in action and presumed dead. But he turned out to have been a POW and then had to go to a convalescent home. First his mother wrote to her (when he wasn’t well enough) and then he did. But Margot didn’t reply because she doesn't know how to tell Harry about what happened.
I don’t want to say more about the plot because this was a short book (150 pages). Almost everything I’ve mentioned is just setup. But I thought this book was well-written and poignant, and the research was impeccable. I loved the period details and the details about what it was like to grow up in a vicarage and what was expected of the vicar’s children. I only caught one error which I’m not even sure is an error, “music box” instead of the British “musical box.” It’s possible the editor made that change, or that I have it wrong, because the language “sounds” authentically British to me.
The only other caveat I had was that it was a little hard to keep track of Margot’s siblings and remember who was who for a good part of the book (she has a big family). But that’s minor and I recommend the book.
Just two other notes: the main plot has to do with Margot’s mixed feelings about giving up James for adoption and the romance, while very important, takes a backseat to that. The ending was . I was happy about that.
A friend of mine recommended this book so I decided to try it. The Silent Stars Go By is set post World War I and is about Margot, a young (nineteen I think) woman who gave up her child for adoption—by her parents. She was sixteen when James was born and had no means of support, nor did she feel she could cause a scandal—her father was the vicar. And her parents were good parents and she knew they would be good to James. Nevertheless it was really hard, she loved her son very much.
The book starts when Margot comes home to visit for the holidays (she left to become a typist so as to not intrude on her parents adoption of her biological son) . She’s been back before but this time James is two and at first he doesn’t recognize her. But the bigger problem is that Harry, his biological father, is now back from the war and arriving in town soon.
Margot and Harry fell in love almost at first sight, but then he went off to the war. When she discovered she was pregnant, he was missing in action and presumed dead. But he turned out to have been a POW and then had to go to a convalescent home. First his mother wrote to her (when he wasn’t well enough) and then he did. But Margot didn’t reply because she doesn't know how to tell Harry about what happened.
I don’t want to say more about the plot because this was a short book (150 pages). Almost everything I’ve mentioned is just setup. But I thought this book was well-written and poignant, and the research was impeccable. I loved the period details and the details about what it was like to grow up in a vicarage and what was expected of the vicar’s children. I only caught one error which I’m not even sure is an error, “music box” instead of the British “musical box.” It’s possible the editor made that change, or that I have it wrong, because the language “sounds” authentically British to me.
The only other caveat I had was that it was a little hard to keep track of Margot’s siblings and remember who was who for a good part of the book (she has a big family). But that’s minor and I recommend the book.
Just two other notes: the main plot has to do with Margot’s mixed feelings about giving up James for adoption and the romance, while very important, takes a backseat to that. The ending was . I was happy about that.
December 27, 2020
www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
The Silent Stars Go By is a lovely story. My heart went out to Harry Ginger, when writes this lovely letter to Margot, thinking everything is his fault somehow, in reality it shows he really does love Margot deep down. But Margot is keeping a secret and one way or another she is going to have to face it, and I believe that she should tell Harry her secret.
Crowhurst Farm
Crowhurst
North Yorkshire
9th December 1949
Dear Margot,
I do not wish to be a milestone round your neck, and if you would rather have nothing more to do with me, I won’t be such an ass as to insist that you uphold your promise or anything beastly like that. But I think it only to polite to inform you that I shall be coming home for Christmas and we are likely in the unusual run of things to find ourselves somewhat in one another’s pockets.
We may no longer be lovers, but I would hate to think we were ever anything but friends. I cannot claim to understand why you chose to ignore my previous communications, but I trust that you have your reasons. I must say, I think you might have the decency to tell me what they are. If you have heard any ill of me, please allow me the chance to explain myself. Though I can’t imagine what the devil it is you might have heard.
I remain your most obedient etc ( truly, Margot, I do).
Harry Ginger
The Silent Stars Go By is a lovely story. My heart went out to Harry Ginger, when writes this lovely letter to Margot, thinking everything is his fault somehow, in reality it shows he really does love Margot deep down. But Margot is keeping a secret and one way or another she is going to have to face it, and I believe that she should tell Harry her secret.
Crowhurst Farm
Crowhurst
North Yorkshire
9th December 1949
Dear Margot,
I do not wish to be a milestone round your neck, and if you would rather have nothing more to do with me, I won’t be such an ass as to insist that you uphold your promise or anything beastly like that. But I think it only to polite to inform you that I shall be coming home for Christmas and we are likely in the unusual run of things to find ourselves somewhat in one another’s pockets.
We may no longer be lovers, but I would hate to think we were ever anything but friends. I cannot claim to understand why you chose to ignore my previous communications, but I trust that you have your reasons. I must say, I think you might have the decency to tell me what they are. If you have heard any ill of me, please allow me the chance to explain myself. Though I can’t imagine what the devil it is you might have heard.
I remain your most obedient etc ( truly, Margot, I do).
Harry Ginger
October 26, 2021
Margot and Harry got engaged when they were still in their teens.
Shortly afterwards Harry is called up to serve in World War One.
A few months later he is reported to be missing in action.
Margot then discovers she is expecting a baby.
This is a story about the sad choices that faced unmarried mothers at this time. The heartbreaking decisions they had to make and the guilt that they had to endure afterwards.
I read this book in one sitting, hoping for a happy ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andersen Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Shortly afterwards Harry is called up to serve in World War One.
A few months later he is reported to be missing in action.
Margot then discovers she is expecting a baby.
This is a story about the sad choices that faced unmarried mothers at this time. The heartbreaking decisions they had to make and the guilt that they had to endure afterwards.
I read this book in one sitting, hoping for a happy ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andersen Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦’𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘵.”
Starting my new year with this book & the christmas vibes is just perfect. This book shows how a woman & a mother have to face the consequences being a young mother with a child. She’s Margot and the baby of hers belongs to her & Harry,her fiancé. Out of sudden,Harry went missing in a war. She keeps her son out of everyones knowledge and it is known to threatened her family’s reputation for having a baby at a very young age. Her mother took care of her son.
Harry came back during Christmas & now Margot feels that she need to tell him about their son. She deals it with a very hard time alone and that makes me feel so sorry for her. Can you imagine,being a young mother but when you’re grown up,your son don’t even know that you’re his mother😭? When she tried her best to spend time with her son, I feel the pain, seeing your own son grown up without you by his side…Not only that,as Margot tries to tell Harry about their son,I was expecting something bad to happen but instead,Harry is the sweetest human alive. He treats Margot with all his heart and all this while when he was gone,he still thinks about Margot.
This book is perfect for christmas and the experience you feel when you read this book is 😭💔🥺❤️. The writing style is an OK from me but the mc is so heartwarming. I got confused at some times when reading this book due to some of the side characters(theres a lot) but I still can catch the story.
Starting my new year with this book & the christmas vibes is just perfect. This book shows how a woman & a mother have to face the consequences being a young mother with a child. She’s Margot and the baby of hers belongs to her & Harry,her fiancé. Out of sudden,Harry went missing in a war. She keeps her son out of everyones knowledge and it is known to threatened her family’s reputation for having a baby at a very young age. Her mother took care of her son.
Harry came back during Christmas & now Margot feels that she need to tell him about their son. She deals it with a very hard time alone and that makes me feel so sorry for her. Can you imagine,being a young mother but when you’re grown up,your son don’t even know that you’re his mother😭? When she tried her best to spend time with her son, I feel the pain, seeing your own son grown up without you by his side…Not only that,as Margot tries to tell Harry about their son,I was expecting something bad to happen but instead,Harry is the sweetest human alive. He treats Margot with all his heart and all this while when he was gone,he still thinks about Margot.
This book is perfect for christmas and the experience you feel when you read this book is 😭💔🥺❤️. The writing style is an OK from me but the mc is so heartwarming. I got confused at some times when reading this book due to some of the side characters(theres a lot) but I still can catch the story.
February 18, 2023
"It never does to compare your troubles to other people's. Grief is grief, and you can't know how heavy someone else's is unless you carry it. I mean, is it easier to lose your leg or your mind? Or your son? How can you compare them? And why would you? What difference does it make?"
I picked this book up because of the cover. I didn't even bother to read the synopsis when I checked it out from the library, especially considering how short it was. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the tale of a vicar's daughter who had a child out of wedlock and was forced to give him up during the first world war. I wasn't expecting the raw emotion or the heaviness that surrounds this story. It wasn't a light book. There was no laughter or smiles or heartfelt hope. It was all gloom and grim acceptance, set in a world that didn't know how to move on from the trauma of conflict. The story felt ordinary and the conflict was almost entirely internal: there was no strong plot, no twist, no climax, no resolution. The Silent Stars Go By was merely a glimpse into life in 1919, nothing more and nothing less.
While it was an interesting read with a new perspective, I found it difficult to get attached to the characters. None of them were particularly likeable, which I suppose was the point of the novella. They weren't heroes or villains, they were just people. I can't say I really enjoyed reading this book, but I was moved by the story nonetheless.
I picked this book up because of the cover. I didn't even bother to read the synopsis when I checked it out from the library, especially considering how short it was. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the tale of a vicar's daughter who had a child out of wedlock and was forced to give him up during the first world war. I wasn't expecting the raw emotion or the heaviness that surrounds this story. It wasn't a light book. There was no laughter or smiles or heartfelt hope. It was all gloom and grim acceptance, set in a world that didn't know how to move on from the trauma of conflict. The story felt ordinary and the conflict was almost entirely internal: there was no strong plot, no twist, no climax, no resolution. The Silent Stars Go By was merely a glimpse into life in 1919, nothing more and nothing less.
While it was an interesting read with a new perspective, I found it difficult to get attached to the characters. None of them were particularly likeable, which I suppose was the point of the novella. They weren't heroes or villains, they were just people. I can't say I really enjoyed reading this book, but I was moved by the story nonetheless.
December 14, 2020
Margot has been in love with Harry ever since his family moved to their village. As a vicar’s daughter Margot knows certain expectations are held for her, so it is something of a shock to learn that nineteen year old Margot is actually the mother of a toddler. The father, Harry, went missing in action and doesn’t know he has a child.
Worried about the social implications of having a child when unmarried, Margot’s parents engineer events so that they adopt the child and he is raised as their own. Now nineteen, Margot wonders how she can reconcile her thoughts and feelings with her sense of duty.
The story is quite a familiar one, so I’m assuming this is a foray into the context for younger readers.
We see things through Margot’s eyes and, in the main, it’s all a little superficial. I would have liked to know a little more of Harry’s thoughts upon learning the truth, and for a family so worried about what others would think of them there was little to indicate this was necessary. The elder brother suffering was also somewhat glossed over.
I felt sympathy for the experience of all those involved, but it never really developed in a way that made me feel overly engaged. I’m sure, however, that younger readers of those who don’t know much about this period in history will fall under the spell of Margot and her family and wonder how things were ever like this.
Worried about the social implications of having a child when unmarried, Margot’s parents engineer events so that they adopt the child and he is raised as their own. Now nineteen, Margot wonders how she can reconcile her thoughts and feelings with her sense of duty.
The story is quite a familiar one, so I’m assuming this is a foray into the context for younger readers.
We see things through Margot’s eyes and, in the main, it’s all a little superficial. I would have liked to know a little more of Harry’s thoughts upon learning the truth, and for a family so worried about what others would think of them there was little to indicate this was necessary. The elder brother suffering was also somewhat glossed over.
I felt sympathy for the experience of all those involved, but it never really developed in a way that made me feel overly engaged. I’m sure, however, that younger readers of those who don’t know much about this period in history will fall under the spell of Margot and her family and wonder how things were ever like this.
December 22, 2020
The story follows a girl called Margot who is returning home for Christmas to celebrate with her family. The book is set during 1919, following the end of WW2, and the men who went to fight the war are finally returning home. Margot's family has a close-kept secret though, to which their village can never know..
I found myself speeding through a majority of the book because it was just 👏so 👏well-written👏. The characters were wonderful (I especially loved baby James), and it honestly gave me such a festive vibe!
I'm hoping more people will pick it up this winter because it's simply perfect for the season! ❄️
There were times when I got frustrated though, because I just wanted Margot to TELL HARRY THE TRUTH so they could have a happy ending 😭 but Sally Nicholls seriously kept me on edge.
It's a wonderfully cozy story, and I'm looking forward to checking out more books by the author in the future! 😊
Rating: 4/5
I found myself speeding through a majority of the book because it was just 👏so 👏well-written👏. The characters were wonderful (I especially loved baby James), and it honestly gave me such a festive vibe!
I'm hoping more people will pick it up this winter because it's simply perfect for the season! ❄️
There were times when I got frustrated though, because I just wanted Margot to TELL HARRY THE TRUTH so they could have a happy ending 😭 but Sally Nicholls seriously kept me on edge.
It's a wonderfully cozy story, and I'm looking forward to checking out more books by the author in the future! 😊
Rating: 4/5
January 30, 2022
The Silent Stars Go By is a lovely gentle read with a old fashioned air to it. Not because it's historical fiction, the writing vibes with a charming nostalgic feel. I loved the large Vicarage family and Margaret's supportive parents, and also how realistic and poignant the plot felt.
Margaret and Harry seemed to be doomed lovers but I had faith in these star crossed lovers. Throughout the book, I was totally invested in their relationship and my heart was bursting for them to somehow achieve happily ever after.
Sally Nicholls created characters that drew me and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books by her.
Recommended for YA and Historical Fiction fans.
Margaret and Harry seemed to be doomed lovers but I had faith in these star crossed lovers. Throughout the book, I was totally invested in their relationship and my heart was bursting for them to somehow achieve happily ever after.
Sally Nicholls created characters that drew me and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books by her.
Recommended for YA and Historical Fiction fans.
September 19, 2022
Thank you to Candlewick Press and Walkerbooks for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel attempts to give insight to the attitudes towards unmarried mothers in the early 1900’s. After Margot’s fiancé leaves for the war, she discovered she is pregnant, and receives word no loved one wants to get - missing in action. As much as I want to praise this novel for tackling this topic, I think there multiple errors with attempt that was only surface level. We only get to see Margot’s point of view on this issue and her thoughts around the topic, and we don’t get to see the village or anyone else for that manner reflect their opinion on the matter.
Margot is childish and I honestly didn’t sympathize with her in the slightest. The entire 224 pages, we see her go back and fourth about her decision and wether she made the right decision. Now I know this would be an incredibly hard decision to deal with, but the writing style didn’t help me sympathize with Margot. It is talked about how she feels like she’s trapped between adulthood and childhood because of this, and she comes off more childish and annoying out of anything. She did make mature decisions, but as pointed out by her sister at one point, she doesn’t consider the fact that her second guessing this decision could impact and cause grief for other parties.
My biggest issue with this novel and why I didn’t enjoy nor really care for our main character was because the writing style was written like journal entries. Now it wasn’t actually, but the way in which it was written is like we are getting the story from a third party, retelling is this information without diving deeper into anything. It’s very surface level and we never go beyond that. Timelines get confusing when we believe we are reading about the present time, which doesn’t make, then there’s this small clue, that Margot is remembering something from the past. It’s not indicated and was very frustrating. This was also a tell over show type story. Like mentioned, we are being told this story. We aren’t living it which is it’s greatest downfall. I think the topics and themes would have hit harder if I could connect to our main character and really feel like I was living this life beside her.
Another aspect I didn’t really care for and honestly made Margot seem like a horrible mother was her perception of herself. This novel opens with us being introduced to Margot as someone whole cares a lot about her looks, being put together, and what other people think of her. As we progress through the novel, this ideal is what untimely guides her to making her decision. She doesn’t want everyone to think poorly of her, and she doesn’t want to loose friendships. But in doing so, she lost friendships anyway. The comparison to fancy her and poor her just wasn’t something I vibed with and it came off as this was the only thing she cared about and was trying to run away from.
I think this novel had an excellent idea of showing how the 1920’s weren’t something glamours and that their was a lot of hardship and sorrow. But, the execution killed this, and honestly didn’t make it as impactful as it could have been.
This novel attempts to give insight to the attitudes towards unmarried mothers in the early 1900’s. After Margot’s fiancé leaves for the war, she discovered she is pregnant, and receives word no loved one wants to get - missing in action. As much as I want to praise this novel for tackling this topic, I think there multiple errors with attempt that was only surface level. We only get to see Margot’s point of view on this issue and her thoughts around the topic, and we don’t get to see the village or anyone else for that manner reflect their opinion on the matter.
Margot is childish and I honestly didn’t sympathize with her in the slightest. The entire 224 pages, we see her go back and fourth about her decision and wether she made the right decision. Now I know this would be an incredibly hard decision to deal with, but the writing style didn’t help me sympathize with Margot. It is talked about how she feels like she’s trapped between adulthood and childhood because of this, and she comes off more childish and annoying out of anything. She did make mature decisions, but as pointed out by her sister at one point, she doesn’t consider the fact that her second guessing this decision could impact and cause grief for other parties.
My biggest issue with this novel and why I didn’t enjoy nor really care for our main character was because the writing style was written like journal entries. Now it wasn’t actually, but the way in which it was written is like we are getting the story from a third party, retelling is this information without diving deeper into anything. It’s very surface level and we never go beyond that. Timelines get confusing when we believe we are reading about the present time, which doesn’t make, then there’s this small clue, that Margot is remembering something from the past. It’s not indicated and was very frustrating. This was also a tell over show type story. Like mentioned, we are being told this story. We aren’t living it which is it’s greatest downfall. I think the topics and themes would have hit harder if I could connect to our main character and really feel like I was living this life beside her.
Another aspect I didn’t really care for and honestly made Margot seem like a horrible mother was her perception of herself. This novel opens with us being introduced to Margot as someone whole cares a lot about her looks, being put together, and what other people think of her. As we progress through the novel, this ideal is what untimely guides her to making her decision. She doesn’t want everyone to think poorly of her, and she doesn’t want to loose friendships. But in doing so, she lost friendships anyway. The comparison to fancy her and poor her just wasn’t something I vibed with and it came off as this was the only thing she cared about and was trying to run away from.
I think this novel had an excellent idea of showing how the 1920’s weren’t something glamours and that their was a lot of hardship and sorrow. But, the execution killed this, and honestly didn’t make it as impactful as it could have been.
November 28, 2020
This historical YA fiction really tugged at my heart strings more than I expected it to.
I don't often read historical novels, however the YA format meant that the writing was less dense and therefore more easy going and quick to read.
The premise of this book really called to me. I usually prefer more hard hitting contemporary/historical fiction and this one did not disappoint. Dealing with being a single mother in the early 1900s must have been horrific for the mother, to be treated with so much scorn and disgust from the wider community. Regardless of it being none of their business. We've come a long way from this in today's world but I definitely felt that there are still some old preconceptions of single parenthood that pop up here and there.
Living in Ireland, and the horror of the mother and baby homes and the despicable acts committed by the catholic church coming to light, this is a topic I feel so strongly about. There was so much suffering that still hasn't been accounted or apologised for and people (including the church) continues to try brush it under the rug.
You grow to feel so much for Margot. How she internalises so much shame and having to live with the self-hatred and doubt over whether or not she did the best thing for her child.
This was a relatively small book which didn't have a wide ranging plot. It felt more of a quiet story centring on a family coping through multiple types and stages of grief, not long after the first World War in the English countryside. I say this is a quiet book, but it still packs so much emotion into a relatively short amount of pages. It's more of a snapshot into this family's life over the few days running up to Christmas.
I have to say I was rooting for Margot and Harry the whole way through this story, which, at times, made it frustrating when on, so many occasions the couple were thwarted from getting to talk things out. This just became too repetitive for me and the main reason why I rated it lower. Tying into this were some of Margot's actions that worked against herself in a way. When she didn't write to him even after she discovered he had survived the war and was no longer missing in action. There's no way I could imagine doing this so I disliked reading from a character's perspective where they thought that this was ok. It came across as cowardly. She had an absolute horrible time, yes, but she was not the only person to have a child. And being POW was hardly a walk in the park either, I imagine.
Despite the war being such a frequent topic mentioned throughout this book it isn't a war book. It very much focuses on the conflicting emotions of giving up a child or being forced to give up a child. And consequently, how does one carry on as normal after that?
The fact that Margot's family took her son, James, in, in this instance, adds another tension and conflict to the story.
Margot loves her family but it shreds her to pieces to see her mother caring for James where she is not much more than a stranger who visits now and then.
This reminded me a little of Juno Dawson's Margot and Me. If you were a fan of that then I suggest giving this novel a go.
I don't often read historical novels, however the YA format meant that the writing was less dense and therefore more easy going and quick to read.
The premise of this book really called to me. I usually prefer more hard hitting contemporary/historical fiction and this one did not disappoint. Dealing with being a single mother in the early 1900s must have been horrific for the mother, to be treated with so much scorn and disgust from the wider community. Regardless of it being none of their business. We've come a long way from this in today's world but I definitely felt that there are still some old preconceptions of single parenthood that pop up here and there.
Living in Ireland, and the horror of the mother and baby homes and the despicable acts committed by the catholic church coming to light, this is a topic I feel so strongly about. There was so much suffering that still hasn't been accounted or apologised for and people (including the church) continues to try brush it under the rug.
You grow to feel so much for Margot. How she internalises so much shame and having to live with the self-hatred and doubt over whether or not she did the best thing for her child.
This was a relatively small book which didn't have a wide ranging plot. It felt more of a quiet story centring on a family coping through multiple types and stages of grief, not long after the first World War in the English countryside. I say this is a quiet book, but it still packs so much emotion into a relatively short amount of pages. It's more of a snapshot into this family's life over the few days running up to Christmas.
I have to say I was rooting for Margot and Harry the whole way through this story, which, at times, made it frustrating when on, so many occasions the couple were thwarted from getting to talk things out. This just became too repetitive for me and the main reason why I rated it lower. Tying into this were some of Margot's actions that worked against herself in a way. When she didn't write to him even after she discovered he had survived the war and was no longer missing in action. There's no way I could imagine doing this so I disliked reading from a character's perspective where they thought that this was ok. It came across as cowardly. She had an absolute horrible time, yes, but she was not the only person to have a child. And being POW was hardly a walk in the park either, I imagine.
Despite the war being such a frequent topic mentioned throughout this book it isn't a war book. It very much focuses on the conflicting emotions of giving up a child or being forced to give up a child. And consequently, how does one carry on as normal after that?
The fact that Margot's family took her son, James, in, in this instance, adds another tension and conflict to the story.
Margot loves her family but it shreds her to pieces to see her mother caring for James where she is not much more than a stranger who visits now and then.
This reminded me a little of Juno Dawson's Margot and Me. If you were a fan of that then I suggest giving this novel a go.
November 14, 2021
I read 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗚𝗢 𝗕𝗬 by Sally Nicholls as part of the Tandem Collective & Andersen Press readalong, and I loved this beautiful historical fiction story.
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'𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱,' 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆, '𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲'𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘁.'
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The Silent Stars Go By is the first book I have read by Sally Nicholls, and what a stunner it was.
Exploring themes of love, loss, and family, it follows Margot, who is returning to her family home for the first real Christmas since the end of the Great War.
She left behind a secret, and the time is coming where she will need to reveal the secret to her nearest and dearest, but can she forgive herself and move forward into her future?
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𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆. 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲. 𝗢𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹.
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Margot's fiancé, Harry, was missing in action, and of course she assumed the worst (as we all would).
However, it has recently come to light that Harry is very much alive, and he will be returning this Christmas too.
But is Harry still the boy Margot fell in love with, and is Margot still the girl Harry fell in love with? Can they repair the rift caused by secrets, distance, and time?
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𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
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Margot's conflicting emotions are depicted wonderfully by Nicholls, and she somehow captures exactly what it feels like to be on the cusp of womanhood, yet still not fully an adult.
Margot has some unresolved emotions and trauma, especially with her parents, but can everything really be addressed and put to bed?
As a character, Margot herself is a bit of a dizzy dreamer, creating elaborate fantasies to escape into, and avoiding the real world life she must face. Even her memories of her time with Harry are dreamlike and sepia-toned, like something from a fairytale.
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𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁, 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀' 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁'𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻.
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Margot's siblings and parents are fantastic characters, well-depicted by Nicholls.
Her brother Stephen, who has perhaps been impacted the most by serving in the war, is struggling to integrate back into the humdrum of everyday life after the sights he has seen and the things he has done.
Her sister Jocelyn, who is deemed the clever but plain sister, is really amusing but also strong. She challenges Margot when Margot needs to be challenged, and she has a beautiful sense of morality, and a calling to do some good in the world.
Her Mother, who is the glue holding the family together, and who Margot is only now viewing as an individual with her own wants, needs, and life outside of her children.
And her Father, who can minister to the desperate and destitute parishioners of their village, but who can't find the words to support his own children through their tribulations.
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𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝘁.
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Nicholls' scene-setting and imagery add so much richness to the story - especially in relation to The Vicarage, the family home, and all the memories that are evoked from returning there.
The backdrop to the evolving storyline is perfect, and so wonderfully immersive.
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𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿; 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽-𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲. 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲.
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Although The Silent Stars Go By was the first book I've read by Sally Nicholls, it won't be the last.
This was a beautiful, heart-warming tale that reminds us how love can conquer all, and how even the most difficult situations can be overcome.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction, or to anyone looking for a light, heart-warming read, especially over the festive period.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁.
𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?
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'𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱,' 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆, '𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲'𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘁.'
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The Silent Stars Go By is the first book I have read by Sally Nicholls, and what a stunner it was.
Exploring themes of love, loss, and family, it follows Margot, who is returning to her family home for the first real Christmas since the end of the Great War.
She left behind a secret, and the time is coming where she will need to reveal the secret to her nearest and dearest, but can she forgive herself and move forward into her future?
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𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆. 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲. 𝗢𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹.
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Margot's fiancé, Harry, was missing in action, and of course she assumed the worst (as we all would).
However, it has recently come to light that Harry is very much alive, and he will be returning this Christmas too.
But is Harry still the boy Margot fell in love with, and is Margot still the girl Harry fell in love with? Can they repair the rift caused by secrets, distance, and time?
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𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
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Margot's conflicting emotions are depicted wonderfully by Nicholls, and she somehow captures exactly what it feels like to be on the cusp of womanhood, yet still not fully an adult.
Margot has some unresolved emotions and trauma, especially with her parents, but can everything really be addressed and put to bed?
As a character, Margot herself is a bit of a dizzy dreamer, creating elaborate fantasies to escape into, and avoiding the real world life she must face. Even her memories of her time with Harry are dreamlike and sepia-toned, like something from a fairytale.
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𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁, 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀' 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁'𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻.
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Margot's siblings and parents are fantastic characters, well-depicted by Nicholls.
Her brother Stephen, who has perhaps been impacted the most by serving in the war, is struggling to integrate back into the humdrum of everyday life after the sights he has seen and the things he has done.
Her sister Jocelyn, who is deemed the clever but plain sister, is really amusing but also strong. She challenges Margot when Margot needs to be challenged, and she has a beautiful sense of morality, and a calling to do some good in the world.
Her Mother, who is the glue holding the family together, and who Margot is only now viewing as an individual with her own wants, needs, and life outside of her children.
And her Father, who can minister to the desperate and destitute parishioners of their village, but who can't find the words to support his own children through their tribulations.
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𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝘁.
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Nicholls' scene-setting and imagery add so much richness to the story - especially in relation to The Vicarage, the family home, and all the memories that are evoked from returning there.
The backdrop to the evolving storyline is perfect, and so wonderfully immersive.
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𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿; 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽-𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲. 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲.
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Although The Silent Stars Go By was the first book I've read by Sally Nicholls, it won't be the last.
This was a beautiful, heart-warming tale that reminds us how love can conquer all, and how even the most difficult situations can be overcome.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction, or to anyone looking for a light, heart-warming read, especially over the festive period.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁.
𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁.
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?
September 25, 2025
Nice easy read. Very predictable but still nice.
November 11, 2020
“This secret should never have been kept from him. One way or another, they were going to have to face it”
Margot Allen, the daughter of the much respected and loved vicar has a secret. And now with her fiancé returning from The Great War after being deemed missing in action, she has a choice to make. To tell Harry the truth and risking him hating her forever or keep it a secret and live with the guilt and heartache for the rest of her life.
This was a lovely, easy read and is perfect for Christmas time with a cup of hot chocolate. At only a couple of hundred pages it could easily be read in just a few hours. It really captured what life was like for young women who were faced with sending the men they loved off to war and knowing they may never see them again. And deals with the aftermath of the war; how it changes individuals, couples and families.
It is a great book for a young adult who enjoying historical fiction and looking back at how life was before our time. For me, I have been doing some work on my family tree and my nana was just like wee James. So it felt very close to home for me. I don’t believe however the hardships faced were so vivid. It is more of a happily ever after tale than the harsh reality that was faced by people who struggled with the effects of a country trying to piece itself back together. But sometimes a happy ending is what is needed. Especially when times are tough enough.
Margot Allen, the daughter of the much respected and loved vicar has a secret. And now with her fiancé returning from The Great War after being deemed missing in action, she has a choice to make. To tell Harry the truth and risking him hating her forever or keep it a secret and live with the guilt and heartache for the rest of her life.
This was a lovely, easy read and is perfect for Christmas time with a cup of hot chocolate. At only a couple of hundred pages it could easily be read in just a few hours. It really captured what life was like for young women who were faced with sending the men they loved off to war and knowing they may never see them again. And deals with the aftermath of the war; how it changes individuals, couples and families.
It is a great book for a young adult who enjoying historical fiction and looking back at how life was before our time. For me, I have been doing some work on my family tree and my nana was just like wee James. So it felt very close to home for me. I don’t believe however the hardships faced were so vivid. It is more of a happily ever after tale than the harsh reality that was faced by people who struggled with the effects of a country trying to piece itself back together. But sometimes a happy ending is what is needed. Especially when times are tough enough.
Read
December 1, 2022dnf at 80 pages. Frightfully dry - no idea what sort of child would be interested in this
April 2, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the heartbreaking though not ultimately tragic story of Margot Allen, a vicar’s daughter in 1919 who accidentally became pregnant at sixteen and whose son is now being raised as her younger brother. Meanwhile, the father, formerly Missing in Action in WWI, returns, and nineteen-year-old Margot still hasn’t told him what really happened or why she stopped speaking to him. Over Christmas, she gets a second chance to determine the course of her life, but can she overcome her fear to tell her maybe-ex-boyfriend that he’s a father, and can she reveal the truth and raise her own child without irreparably hurting her mother–who lost her own baby a few years ago?
There’s a lot of exposition that could probably have been handled more smoothly, though some of it is necessary as major events in the storyline took place years before the book starts. Margot is an unusual YA protagonist. She doesn’t have any big dreams or strong interests even before the depression that comes with her unwanted pregnancy and the trauma of giving up her child. She’s pretty and social and her intelligence is mostly ignored by others, but she doesn’t stress it herself. She was a child before she had her baby and her new adult self is a mess of hurt; her pain is her defining feature. She “funks” telling her boyfriend when he first returns, and is trying to figure out if she dares try again.
But she’s very real despite the vagueness of her character in many ways. The novel totally immerses you in Margot’s head over the course of a fateful Christmas break, and doesn’t provide any easy answers to Margot’s dilemmas. Nor does her brother Stephen have a closed arc–his dissatisfaction and trauma after his wartime service is left open, as many things in life are. Margot’s lover Harry is almost too good to be true, but he has complex feelings of his own. The ending is neither completely happy nor hopeless; it’s a bit abrupt but fits with the realness and messiness of the whole experience. I was crying by the end of the book. Despite some of the overly expository and simple style of writing, it was incredibly moving.
This is the heartbreaking though not ultimately tragic story of Margot Allen, a vicar’s daughter in 1919 who accidentally became pregnant at sixteen and whose son is now being raised as her younger brother. Meanwhile, the father, formerly Missing in Action in WWI, returns, and nineteen-year-old Margot still hasn’t told him what really happened or why she stopped speaking to him. Over Christmas, she gets a second chance to determine the course of her life, but can she overcome her fear to tell her maybe-ex-boyfriend that he’s a father, and can she reveal the truth and raise her own child without irreparably hurting her mother–who lost her own baby a few years ago?
There’s a lot of exposition that could probably have been handled more smoothly, though some of it is necessary as major events in the storyline took place years before the book starts. Margot is an unusual YA protagonist. She doesn’t have any big dreams or strong interests even before the depression that comes with her unwanted pregnancy and the trauma of giving up her child. She’s pretty and social and her intelligence is mostly ignored by others, but she doesn’t stress it herself. She was a child before she had her baby and her new adult self is a mess of hurt; her pain is her defining feature. She “funks” telling her boyfriend when he first returns, and is trying to figure out if she dares try again.
But she’s very real despite the vagueness of her character in many ways. The novel totally immerses you in Margot’s head over the course of a fateful Christmas break, and doesn’t provide any easy answers to Margot’s dilemmas. Nor does her brother Stephen have a closed arc–his dissatisfaction and trauma after his wartime service is left open, as many things in life are. Margot’s lover Harry is almost too good to be true, but he has complex feelings of his own. The ending is neither completely happy nor hopeless; it’s a bit abrupt but fits with the realness and messiness of the whole experience. I was crying by the end of the book. Despite some of the overly expository and simple style of writing, it was incredibly moving.
November 22, 2020
Rarely have I been so moved by a book. Each page is written with a poignancy and depth that demands that you feel that heartbreak, joy and confusion of each character. Margot gives us the full extent of her character; complex, torn, grasping the moments of happiness and balancing them with her devastation and shame. She has to deal with the consequences of whatever choice she makes, both within her family and the relationship she will have with them going forward and in the world outside of it. There is Harry, the only man she has ever loved. What will the truth do to him; to their love? And what is best for James, this lovely, bright, happy child? The courage and fortitude she shows is astounding.
With true insight into the times, the social history, you are not only immersed in the people, the perspectives and the feelings, but gifted with an actual slice of the times with texture and nuance. Setting the story at Christmas, that time of joy and reflection; of gifts and giving makes the whole tale simply perfect. Altogether, quietly remarkable; beautifully written, heartfelt & very, very wise.
With true insight into the times, the social history, you are not only immersed in the people, the perspectives and the feelings, but gifted with an actual slice of the times with texture and nuance. Setting the story at Christmas, that time of joy and reflection; of gifts and giving makes the whole tale simply perfect. Altogether, quietly remarkable; beautifully written, heartfelt & very, very wise.
November 28, 2022
I desperately wanted this book to be better than it was. I had expected a cozy, somewhat bittersweet Christmas tale, somewhere along the lines of Charles Dickens-esque in mood, but it just didn't engage me as I'd hoped.
The scenes were very rushed and short, making me feel like I really couldn't get to know the characters, and I felt like I spent the majority of the book looking back at Margot's past decisions even though the story is supposed to take place in her "present". I was also very confused by the chapter titles in the beginning. Typically, when a character's name is the title of a chapter, that indicates a point-of-view (POV) switch, but Margot is the only POV, even when I think it switches over to Harry's POV, it somehow, in the middle of a paragraph even, always ends up back in Margot's POV. This left me confused a LOT.
The story could be considered bittersweet, and I think it held a lot of potential, but I just struggled to get through it. I didn't like Margot's character, and the story just wasn't what I expected it to be. So overall, it's okay, just not necessarily for me.
There is some mild cursing and dealing with mature topics like teen pregnancy.
The scenes were very rushed and short, making me feel like I really couldn't get to know the characters, and I felt like I spent the majority of the book looking back at Margot's past decisions even though the story is supposed to take place in her "present". I was also very confused by the chapter titles in the beginning. Typically, when a character's name is the title of a chapter, that indicates a point-of-view (POV) switch, but Margot is the only POV, even when I think it switches over to Harry's POV, it somehow, in the middle of a paragraph even, always ends up back in Margot's POV. This left me confused a LOT.
The story could be considered bittersweet, and I think it held a lot of potential, but I just struggled to get through it. I didn't like Margot's character, and the story just wasn't what I expected it to be. So overall, it's okay, just not necessarily for me.
There is some mild cursing and dealing with mature topics like teen pregnancy.
January 24, 2022
Set just after WW1, this fairly quick read centres around Margot, a young women who found herself pregnant as her fiancé was declared missing in action – when he returns safely can she tell him the truth or should she keep her secret? Ultimately this is a book about choices, consequences & coming to terms with them.
Margot isn’t particularly likeable, but we do see some good depictions of younger people coming to terms with WW1 (eg Stephen who returns from fighting unable to settle back into civilian life) and growing up at this time (eg Jocelyn & her “coming out”). The book captures some of the realities that surrounded young people at this time & is sensitively done for the Young Adult age group.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but it felt a bit superficial and I would like to have seen parts explored in more depth.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#TheSilentStarsGoBy #NetGalley
Margot isn’t particularly likeable, but we do see some good depictions of younger people coming to terms with WW1 (eg Stephen who returns from fighting unable to settle back into civilian life) and growing up at this time (eg Jocelyn & her “coming out”). The book captures some of the realities that surrounded young people at this time & is sensitively done for the Young Adult age group.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but it felt a bit superficial and I would like to have seen parts explored in more depth.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#TheSilentStarsGoBy #NetGalley
November 1, 2020
You can't tell from this picture, but this is a physically beautiful book. All those leaves are picked out in shiny metallic bronze, and the back cover is a deep blue under bronze leaves - a colour combo I think works really well together.
It's also beautiful inside, of course.
I should have known before I started reading. This is the author of Ways to Live Forever, a book that made me cry for hours the first time I read it and still makes me tear up when I reread. Be prepared going into this.
It reads a little like Enid Blyton, all 'golly' and 'beastly' and 'fearful'. Not twee, at all, just setting a background and immersing us in it. After a while I didn't even notice; I was too absorbed in the story,in Margot's story.
I can't say the ending is happy. But it is, probably, the only ending it could be. And it's so well written. I'll be going back to this book again, I can already tell.
Fantastic.
It's also beautiful inside, of course.
I should have known before I started reading. This is the author of Ways to Live Forever, a book that made me cry for hours the first time I read it and still makes me tear up when I reread. Be prepared going into this.
It reads a little like Enid Blyton, all 'golly' and 'beastly' and 'fearful'. Not twee, at all, just setting a background and immersing us in it. After a while I didn't even notice; I was too absorbed in the story,in Margot's story.
I can't say the ending is happy. But it is, probably, the only ending it could be. And it's so well written. I'll be going back to this book again, I can already tell.
Fantastic.
November 19, 2020
Beautiful story. As a mother I truly felt for Margot, I cannot imagine how much hurt and turmoil she was going through. I enjoyed her interactions with her siblings and mother but the best parts were with Harry, James and towards the end, her father, finding her place within the family as she transitioned from child to adulthood. She is trying to keep everyone happy and thinking of others at the expense of herself at times. I did feel the ending was rather abrupt and I was left a little unsatisfied. It is the sort of ending where if you know there will be a follow-up you can placate yourself, but, as a stand alone it is quite vague and open for interpretation. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book and read it within a couple of days as I couldn't wait to find out what was next! I would definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys historical, real-life, family/romance fiction.
November 5, 2023
dnfed at 20%
This book was the whole reason European historical fiction has gone downhill. The sheer amount of slut-shaming and unchallenged misogyny (like, I know it's 1919 but come on, why does every female character have to hate themselves) plus the very weird age gap between a 15 YEAR OLD GIRL and an 18 year old soldier?!?!?!? To quote the great Xiran Jay Zhao, SIR YOU ARE GROOMING A MINOR!
Plus the writing sucked, and I can't remember anyone's name so lol don't read this book.
This book was the whole reason European historical fiction has gone downhill. The sheer amount of slut-shaming and unchallenged misogyny (like, I know it's 1919 but come on, why does every female character have to hate themselves) plus the very weird age gap between a 15 YEAR OLD GIRL and an 18 year old soldier?!?!?!? To quote the great Xiran Jay Zhao, SIR YOU ARE GROOMING A MINOR!
Plus the writing sucked, and I can't remember anyone's name so lol don't read this book.
December 22, 2024
˗ˏˋ꒰𝟯.𝟳𝟱⭐꒱ 𑁍ࠜೄ ･ﾟˊˎ
playιng: [𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙮] - [𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀]
1:35 ──────ㅇ───────── 3:47
↯
˗ˏˋ꒰🎄꒱ 𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
➵𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱: december 5th, 2024
⇒this sounds like my perfect book! i love historical fiction books and christmas so i'm expecting a lot. hopefully this will be a five-star read because i haven't had a lot of those this year.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎠꒱𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
➵ it is 1919 and margot is hiding a secret from everyone she knows, one that could ruin her family's reputation. three years ago, her fiancé was missing in action in world war I and has now come home for christmas. as he continues to pursue margot, she is nervous how her secret will affect him.
⇒ the plot was okay to me. it wasn't anything really special probably because it is a short book. in my opinion, it would have been better if events and characters were more fleshed out. i just wanted more with what happened, to see more backstory for both margot and harry since it is mainly about them. i also noticed after finishing, that the christmas aspect of the book wasn't as big as i thought it would be. it is listed as as a subgenre but i don't think it should have been.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎄꒱𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅
➵ this story takes place after world war I in 1919.
⇒ i felt that nicholls did her research on what the 1910's were like and the culture. i felt like i was living in the 1910's because of the way everything was described and the choice of wording. i was truly impressed! there is also a historical note in the back of the book that gives great insight about what margot and many women like her went through.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎠꒱𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
➵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁: this poor girl has gone through so much. from thinking that harry was dead, and also how her secret has affected her emotionally. you can see her complex emotions from nicholls's writing and it moved me very deeply. i wanted to give margot a huge because no woman should have to go through what she went through.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎄꒱𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
➵ it was sometimes hard to remember which people were margot's siblings and who worked for the allen family. i do think all of them were necessary to show margot's relationship with them. these relationships showed how she both loved and also kind of hated them but you have to read the story to know why her feelings are so complex.
⇒ i wanted harry to be more a part of the story! it would have been so much better if he was more present at the beginning so the tension between him and margot could be more developed. i feel like it would also make the story ten times better.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎠꒱𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔:
➵𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: sad
⇒ i'm not sad because it was bad! i'm sad because it's just a sad sort of story that is very bittersweet. i'm going to need a nice fluffy book after reading this, so prepare your hearts if you're planning on reading this! i wish margot the best because she deserves it after all she has been through.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
↯
˗ˏˋ꒰💌꒱𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰! 𑁍ࠜೄ ･ﾟˊˎ
playιng: [𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙮] - [𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀]
1:35 ──────ㅇ───────── 3:47
↯
˗ˏˋ꒰🎄꒱ 𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
➵𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱: december 5th, 2024
⇒this sounds like my perfect book! i love historical fiction books and christmas so i'm expecting a lot. hopefully this will be a five-star read because i haven't had a lot of those this year.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎠꒱𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
➵ it is 1919 and margot is hiding a secret from everyone she knows, one that could ruin her family's reputation. three years ago, her fiancé was missing in action in world war I and has now come home for christmas. as he continues to pursue margot, she is nervous how her secret will affect him.
⇒ the plot was okay to me. it wasn't anything really special probably because it is a short book. in my opinion, it would have been better if events and characters were more fleshed out. i just wanted more with what happened, to see more backstory for both margot and harry since it is mainly about them. i also noticed after finishing, that the christmas aspect of the book wasn't as big as i thought it would be. it is listed as as a subgenre but i don't think it should have been.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎄꒱𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅
➵ this story takes place after world war I in 1919.
⇒ i felt that nicholls did her research on what the 1910's were like and the culture. i felt like i was living in the 1910's because of the way everything was described and the choice of wording. i was truly impressed! there is also a historical note in the back of the book that gives great insight about what margot and many women like her went through.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎠꒱𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
➵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁: this poor girl has gone through so much. from thinking that harry was dead, and also how her secret has affected her emotionally. you can see her complex emotions from nicholls's writing and it moved me very deeply. i wanted to give margot a huge because no woman should have to go through what she went through.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎄꒱𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
➵ it was sometimes hard to remember which people were margot's siblings and who worked for the allen family. i do think all of them were necessary to show margot's relationship with them. these relationships showed how she both loved and also kind of hated them but you have to read the story to know why her feelings are so complex.
⇒ i wanted harry to be more a part of the story! it would have been so much better if he was more present at the beginning so the tension between him and margot could be more developed. i feel like it would also make the story ten times better.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎠꒱𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔:
➵𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀: sad
⇒ i'm not sad because it was bad! i'm sad because it's just a sad sort of story that is very bittersweet. i'm going to need a nice fluffy book after reading this, so prepare your hearts if you're planning on reading this! i wish margot the best because she deserves it after all she has been through.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
↯
˗ˏˋ꒰💌꒱𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰! 𑁍ࠜೄ ･ﾟˊˎ
December 31, 2021
never expected i would end the year with a beautiful book ♡ whether it is a sign or not, i have a lot to talk about this lovely piece✨
•
I was not expecting this book to entirely broke me and build me up again. It was so melancholic, a fresh morning air kissing your thin skin, chilly and relaxing. That was what i felt reading this.
Margot had lived a pathetic live when her fiance went missing in war, and one day she received a letter from him. However, she was not ready for him to return. As she had a shamely secret surprise, their two-year-old son. Nobody knows about James, poor that kid. Her mother disguised him as Margot's younger brother to keep people silent from gossip. Yet, the truth is she need to tell Harry, her beloved man, that James is no one but his son. What a heavy burden it is through out the story :'(
This book has torn me inside and out. How Margot was in a very hard time dealing with this. Not able to hear her son to call her mother. Not able to see him grow up in her hands. Not able to have James to see her as a mother figure. That just absolutely broke me 💔 apart from that, Harry coming back to her was the most sweetest thing ✨💖 the whole book is their love story. How Margot was so relieved that Harry is safe and returning home. How she was rejoiced to be able to spend time with him again. Just to meet him and embrace him oh my god i hope this doesn't get personal ;-; still, the way Margot talked about Harry Singer, the way she was so excited at the very moment she thought of him. It warmed my heart every single time ♡ Yet, the bittersweet feeling of the truth she was about to tell, the whole process leading towards it making me so nervous. Made me shivering with 'what if's.
The author had done a splendid job writing this. Even though it is very short, the plot was written gorgeously. The pacing was just nice for me to embrace all the feelings. I love her writing soo muchh. It was a satisfying feeling when I reached the end of the last sentence. It felt so complete 😣💓
All thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for sending this book to me in return of an honest review. I couldn't ask for more as this really made my last day of 2021 better than ever ♡
#thesilentstarsgoby #sallynicholls
•
I was not expecting this book to entirely broke me and build me up again. It was so melancholic, a fresh morning air kissing your thin skin, chilly and relaxing. That was what i felt reading this.
Margot had lived a pathetic live when her fiance went missing in war, and one day she received a letter from him. However, she was not ready for him to return. As she had a shamely secret surprise, their two-year-old son. Nobody knows about James, poor that kid. Her mother disguised him as Margot's younger brother to keep people silent from gossip. Yet, the truth is she need to tell Harry, her beloved man, that James is no one but his son. What a heavy burden it is through out the story :'(
This book has torn me inside and out. How Margot was in a very hard time dealing with this. Not able to hear her son to call her mother. Not able to see him grow up in her hands. Not able to have James to see her as a mother figure. That just absolutely broke me 💔 apart from that, Harry coming back to her was the most sweetest thing ✨💖 the whole book is their love story. How Margot was so relieved that Harry is safe and returning home. How she was rejoiced to be able to spend time with him again. Just to meet him and embrace him oh my god i hope this doesn't get personal ;-; still, the way Margot talked about Harry Singer, the way she was so excited at the very moment she thought of him. It warmed my heart every single time ♡ Yet, the bittersweet feeling of the truth she was about to tell, the whole process leading towards it making me so nervous. Made me shivering with 'what if's.
The author had done a splendid job writing this. Even though it is very short, the plot was written gorgeously. The pacing was just nice for me to embrace all the feelings. I love her writing soo muchh. It was a satisfying feeling when I reached the end of the last sentence. It felt so complete 😣💓
All thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for sending this book to me in return of an honest review. I couldn't ask for more as this really made my last day of 2021 better than ever ♡
#thesilentstarsgoby #sallynicholls
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