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Under the Same Stars
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2025)It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.
In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom's Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.
In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.
In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are slogging through the last few months of senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.
Age Range: 12-18
In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom's Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.
In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.
In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are slogging through the last few months of senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.
Age Range: 12-18
471 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
1063 people are currently reading
73230 people want to read
About the author
Libba Bray
47 books15.6k followersWhat is it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling? It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama…" and somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least I hope not.
I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts–I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.
But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?
God is in the details. So with that in mind, here is my bio. Sort of.
TEN THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME by Libba Bray
1. I lived in Texas until I was 26 years old, then I moved to New York City with $600.00 in my shoe ('cause muggers won't take it out of your shoe, y'know . . . riiiiight . . .) and a punchbowl (my grandmother's gift) under my arm. I ended up using the punchbowl box as an end table for two years.
2. My dad was a Presbyterian minister. Yes, I am one of those dreaded P.K.s–Preacher's Kids. Be afraid. Be very afraid . . .
3. The first story I ever wrote, in Mrs. McBee's 6th grade English class, was about a girl whose family is kidnapped and held hostage by a murderous lot of bank robbers who intend to kill the whole family–including the dog–until the 12-year-old heroine foils the plot and saves the day. It included colored pencil illustrations of manly-looking, bearded criminals smoking, and, oblivious to the fact that The Beatles had already sort of laid claim to the title, I called my novel, HELP. My mom still has a copy. And when I do something she doesn't like, she threatens to find it.
4. My favorite word is "redemption." I like both its meaning and the sound. My least favorite word is "maybe." "Maybe" is almost always a "no" drawn out in cruel fashion.
5. My three worst habits are overeating, self-doubt, and the frequent use of the "f" word.
6. The three things I like best about myself are my sense of humor, my ability to listen, and my imagination.
7. I have an artificial left eye. I lost my real eye in a car accident when I was eighteen. In fact, I had to have my entire face rebuilt because I smashed it up pretty good. It took six years and thirteen surgeries. However, I did have the pleasure of freezing a plastic eyeball in an ice cube, putting it in a friend's drink, ("Eyeball in your highball?") and watching him freak completely. Okay, so maybe that's not going down on my good karma record. But it sure was fun.
8. In 7th grade, my three best friends and I dressed up as KISS and walked around our neighborhood on Halloween. Man, we were such dorks.
9. I once spent New Year's Eve in a wetsuit. I'd gone to the party in a black dress that was a little too tight (too many holiday cookies) and when I went to sit down, the dress ripped up the back completely. Can we all say, mortified? The problem was, my friends were moving out of their house–everything was packed and on a truck–and there was nothing I could put on . . . but a wetsuit that they still had tacked to the wall. I spent the rest of the party maneuvering through throngs of people feeling like a giant squid.
10. I got married in Florence, Italy. My husband and I were in love but totally broke, so we eloped and got married in Italy, where he was going on a business trip. We had to pull a guy off the street to be our witness. It was incredibly romantic.
I think what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room floor. I could tell you the facts–I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live in New York City with my husband and six-year-old son now; I have freckles and a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.
But that doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of "Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See what I mean?
God is in the details. So with that in mind, here is my bio. Sort of.
TEN THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME by Libba Bray
1. I lived in Texas until I was 26 years old, then I moved to New York City with $600.00 in my shoe ('cause muggers won't take it out of your shoe, y'know . . . riiiiight . . .) and a punchbowl (my grandmother's gift) under my arm. I ended up using the punchbowl box as an end table for two years.
2. My dad was a Presbyterian minister. Yes, I am one of those dreaded P.K.s–Preacher's Kids. Be afraid. Be very afraid . . .
3. The first story I ever wrote, in Mrs. McBee's 6th grade English class, was about a girl whose family is kidnapped and held hostage by a murderous lot of bank robbers who intend to kill the whole family–including the dog–until the 12-year-old heroine foils the plot and saves the day. It included colored pencil illustrations of manly-looking, bearded criminals smoking, and, oblivious to the fact that The Beatles had already sort of laid claim to the title, I called my novel, HELP. My mom still has a copy. And when I do something she doesn't like, she threatens to find it.
4. My favorite word is "redemption." I like both its meaning and the sound. My least favorite word is "maybe." "Maybe" is almost always a "no" drawn out in cruel fashion.
5. My three worst habits are overeating, self-doubt, and the frequent use of the "f" word.
6. The three things I like best about myself are my sense of humor, my ability to listen, and my imagination.
7. I have an artificial left eye. I lost my real eye in a car accident when I was eighteen. In fact, I had to have my entire face rebuilt because I smashed it up pretty good. It took six years and thirteen surgeries. However, I did have the pleasure of freezing a plastic eyeball in an ice cube, putting it in a friend's drink, ("Eyeball in your highball?") and watching him freak completely. Okay, so maybe that's not going down on my good karma record. But it sure was fun.
8. In 7th grade, my three best friends and I dressed up as KISS and walked around our neighborhood on Halloween. Man, we were such dorks.
9. I once spent New Year's Eve in a wetsuit. I'd gone to the party in a black dress that was a little too tight (too many holiday cookies) and when I went to sit down, the dress ripped up the back completely. Can we all say, mortified? The problem was, my friends were moving out of their house–everything was packed and on a truck–and there was nothing I could put on . . . but a wetsuit that they still had tacked to the wall. I spent the rest of the party maneuvering through throngs of people feeling like a giant squid.
10. I got married in Florence, Italy. My husband and I were in love but totally broke, so we eloped and got married in Italy, where he was going on a business trip. We had to pull a guy off the street to be our witness. It was incredibly romantic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,183 reviews
February 12, 2025
one million stars.
February 5, 2025
This book was BEAUTIFULLY written. Hands down my new favorite book of 2025. If you love a genre blend of historical fiction, mystery, and contemporary fiction with superb writing, please, begging you to read this! Now I'm scared to read any other historical fiction books because I think I'll be disappointed after reading Under the Same Stars.
The writing and the prose were unbelievable. It's been probably been over a decade since I've read a Libba Bray book, but her writing will always be on a whole different level. I was a bit wary going in about how well the three timelines would work in terms of pacing, but I could not put this down. The author seamlessly wove the story between all three narratives, and I was never not engrossed.
Speaking of the timelines, the way everything was interconnected was brilliant. I was tearing up towards the end, and when I finished, I closed the book and stared at the wall. That's how good this was.
The two historical narratives definitely stood out more so than the 2020 storyline. I loved Sophie and Hanna's character development. Sophie was giving major bookworm, Tessa Gray vibes. The author did a great job highlighting how propaganda spread in the 1940s and how quickly war can engulf reality. My heart was breaking during their last chapter.
Jenny's narrative in the 1980s was the perfect coming-of-age story. The punk scene in West Berlin added intrigue, and I like how the author showed the stark contrast between West Berlin and East Berlin.
While the NYC Covid timeline was my least favorite, it perfectly encapsulated the early pandemic era. I didn't love some of the dialogue, and Miles and Chloe weren't my favorite. Though I liked that there was a strong parallel between Miles and Sophie, even though their experiences took place almost a century apart. This book especially feels politically relevant in today's landscape—couldn't recommend more!
Thank you so much to Fierce Reads for sending me an ARC of Under the Same Stars. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
The writing and the prose were unbelievable. It's been probably been over a decade since I've read a Libba Bray book, but her writing will always be on a whole different level. I was a bit wary going in about how well the three timelines would work in terms of pacing, but I could not put this down. The author seamlessly wove the story between all three narratives, and I was never not engrossed.
Speaking of the timelines, the way everything was interconnected was brilliant. I was tearing up towards the end, and when I finished, I closed the book and stared at the wall. That's how good this was.
The two historical narratives definitely stood out more so than the 2020 storyline. I loved Sophie and Hanna's character development. Sophie was giving major bookworm, Tessa Gray vibes. The author did a great job highlighting how propaganda spread in the 1940s and how quickly war can engulf reality. My heart was breaking during their last chapter.
Jenny's narrative in the 1980s was the perfect coming-of-age story. The punk scene in West Berlin added intrigue, and I like how the author showed the stark contrast between West Berlin and East Berlin.
While the NYC Covid timeline was my least favorite, it perfectly encapsulated the early pandemic era. I didn't love some of the dialogue, and Miles and Chloe weren't my favorite. Though I liked that there was a strong parallel between Miles and Sophie, even though their experiences took place almost a century apart. This book especially feels politically relevant in today's landscape—couldn't recommend more!
Thank you so much to Fierce Reads for sending me an ARC of Under the Same Stars. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
February 4, 2025
DNF@60%
I spent the last couple of days contemplating whether I should DNF this book or not and I couldn't really re-pick it up. This started so strong and I was so excited for it however it began dragging out around the 30% mark. I had so many topics that I was not comfortable with so for my own mental health and time I had to let it go
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Thank you so much Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC it was much needed to get me out of my slump 💕
I spent the last couple of days contemplating whether I should DNF this book or not and I couldn't really re-pick it up. This started so strong and I was so excited for it however it began dragging out around the 30% mark. I had so many topics that I was not comfortable with so for my own mental health and time I had to let it go
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Thank you so much Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC it was much needed to get me out of my slump 💕
August 19, 2025
I didn't think I'd fly through this book the way I did! The audiobook elevates the reading experience significantly with the German accents, the voice effects in certain chapters, and different narrators for different characters. I think the only thing that would've made this a 5 is if we chose a different timeline than the 2020 one because this book has enough historical tragedies that we really didn't need another covid book. however, I still appreciated that timeline 'cause I enjoyed the character dynamics and their mission to solve the little mystery throughout this book, and that's the timeline that included one of the big reveals in the book! in terms of the other timelines, I think they were perfectly done in showing the differences in how characters were brought up, how they navigated coming out (or not), and the tender romance in between all of the hardships. There was also a romance in the 2020 timeline, but it felt the most juvenile out of the three, so it was my least favorite. this book reminded me why I need to get back to reading historical fiction more often!
February 3, 2025
The writing was top notch, but unfortunately, Under the Same Stars didn't really grab my attention as much as I thought it would.
The book has a lot to say about the current climate regarding fascism and doing the right thing under dangerous circumstances. This is definitely an important read and Libba Bray pulls no punches in that regard. All three (well, four-ish if you count Mormor's stories/fables) POVs have something to say in regard to countering oppressive governments and recognizing propaganda for what it is.
But other than that, this book really dragged for me. I didn't care much for the modern day COVID storyline/POV. A lot of it felt like filler (typical teenage dating woes and going through Zoom school) and that really pulled me away from the heart of the story. While all of the storylines tied together, the oomph at the end when I found out the truth didn't really hit as hard because of how much this dragged.
The historical narratives were a lot stronger imo, especially the Nazi Germany storyline. But then again, that might be my own preference for WWII stories. The Cold War Germany storyline was also interesting in its historical context, but like the modern day storyline, a lot of it read like filler (more teenage dating woes, but make it queer and punk).
I appreciate the book for what it tries to say, but ultimately, it all gets bogged down by so much filler that I couldn't wait to finish it.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), and NetGalley for this arc.
The book has a lot to say about the current climate regarding fascism and doing the right thing under dangerous circumstances. This is definitely an important read and Libba Bray pulls no punches in that regard. All three (well, four-ish if you count Mormor's stories/fables) POVs have something to say in regard to countering oppressive governments and recognizing propaganda for what it is.
But other than that, this book really dragged for me. I didn't care much for the modern day COVID storyline/POV. A lot of it felt like filler (typical teenage dating woes and going through Zoom school) and that really pulled me away from the heart of the story. While all of the storylines tied together, the oomph at the end when I found out the truth didn't really hit as hard because of how much this dragged.
The historical narratives were a lot stronger imo, especially the Nazi Germany storyline. But then again, that might be my own preference for WWII stories. The Cold War Germany storyline was also interesting in its historical context, but like the modern day storyline, a lot of it read like filler (more teenage dating woes, but make it queer and punk).
I appreciate the book for what it tries to say, but ultimately, it all gets bogged down by so much filler that I couldn't wait to finish it.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), and NetGalley for this arc.
to-read-own
February 21, 2024pre-ordered kindle ebook version on 2/21/2024 for $12.99
------------------------------
I've been waiting for the announcement of a new Libba Bray book for 84 years
too bad it's not coming out for another 92 years on top of that
------------------------------
I've been waiting for the announcement of a new Libba Bray book for 84 years
too bad it's not coming out for another 92 years on top of that
November 12, 2025
This is a Historical Fiction. There are three different time periods in this book, and it is told by different characters throughout this book. I think this book makes you think, and the ending was just so good. I really enjoyed reading this book.
October 24, 2024
well, i read my most-anticipated book of the past several years, and i have thoughts!
as a libba bray stan of almost two decades, i can say that this book feels very different from all of her others. it doesn't feature any actual magic, but there is this dreamlike, fairytale quality woven throughout that i loved. this book's central message is that magic might not be real in a literal sense, but love and resistance and community *are* magic.
the three timelines were very ambitious, and i think some worked better than others. my favorite of the three was definitely jenny's story, set in west berlin in 1980. the one that really didn't work for me was the 2020 timeline-- i think we're just not far removed enough yet from that time to have many meaningful reflections on it. the characters in the 2020 story also felt the least fully formed. i really think the main purpose of that timeline was to tie everything together, which it definitely did. i enjoyed finding the ways in which the timelines and characters were connected. i correctly put together a lot of the mystery elements before the characters did, but i still had fun on the journey of piecing the whole narrative together. i will say that i loved the last chapter and definitely teared up a bit.
all in all, i think this is worth the read if you're a libba bray fan and/or historical fiction lover! it shares themes with a lot of her other work, and her social commentary is always appreciated.
i received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
as a libba bray stan of almost two decades, i can say that this book feels very different from all of her others. it doesn't feature any actual magic, but there is this dreamlike, fairytale quality woven throughout that i loved. this book's central message is that magic might not be real in a literal sense, but love and resistance and community *are* magic.
the three timelines were very ambitious, and i think some worked better than others. my favorite of the three was definitely jenny's story, set in west berlin in 1980. the one that really didn't work for me was the 2020 timeline-- i think we're just not far removed enough yet from that time to have many meaningful reflections on it. the characters in the 2020 story also felt the least fully formed. i really think the main purpose of that timeline was to tie everything together, which it definitely did. i enjoyed finding the ways in which the timelines and characters were connected. i correctly put together a lot of the mystery elements before the characters did, but i still had fun on the journey of piecing the whole narrative together. i will say that i loved the last chapter and definitely teared up a bit.
all in all, i think this is worth the read if you're a libba bray fan and/or historical fiction lover! it shares themes with a lot of her other work, and her social commentary is always appreciated.
i received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want to read
May 9, 2024I barely know anything about this book but I can already tell it will make me sob.
Although...
Although...
Want to read
February 21, 2021From Publisher's Weekly
"This YA historical fiction novel follows two unnamed teens murdered under a mystical oak tree during the height of World War II. The branches of their mystery stretch to Cold War Germany and present-day New York City as love, resistance, and justice entangle to reveal shocking truths. Publication is tentatively scheduled for winter 2023; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media negotiated the deal for world English rights."
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
"This YA historical fiction novel follows two unnamed teens murdered under a mystical oak tree during the height of World War II. The branches of their mystery stretch to Cold War Germany and present-day New York City as love, resistance, and justice entangle to reveal shocking truths. Publication is tentatively scheduled for winter 2023; Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media negotiated the deal for world English rights."
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
May 28, 2025
honestly, I think this book was overly political. I think the story was good, and I learned a lot, but the author kinda interjected her own opinions, which disrupted the story and history. I understand it’s a historical fiction tho, so it’s not too big a deal!
I loved the alternating storylines that worked together to weave this whole plot together! It was one of the best written books in that aspect! I loved Hanna and Sophie, but the whole zoom situation with Miles and Chloe just annoyed me. All in all, I didn’t mind this book but just didn’t like all the politics!
I loved the alternating storylines that worked together to weave this whole plot together! It was one of the best written books in that aspect! I loved Hanna and Sophie, but the whole zoom situation with Miles and Chloe just annoyed me. All in all, I didn’t mind this book but just didn’t like all the politics!
January 27, 2025
Potential new favourite historical fiction blend.
Northern Germany, WWII: Sophie and Hanna are best friends coming to age as Hitler gains power and WWII occurs.
West Berlin, 1980: Jenny moves from America to Berlin with her uptight parents and meets the punk undercurrent.
New York, 2020: Miles is alone facing COVID lockdown with his mums working on the front line or trapped in a different country attending ZOOM classes and eating too many cheerios.
The stories and timelines are all connected by December 22 1941 when two girls go missing: Sophie and Hanna.
I adored Libba Bray’s other YA series and even though this isn’t fantastical, the reasons I loved her other books is why I loved this. Amazing character work, relatable characters, burn down the establishment characters.
Interrogating hard hitting questions with nuance and relevance.
Nothing ever happens in a vacuum. No incident is isolated. The past is with us always. This is the lesson of history and why it is important not to forget. We are always in a conversation with history.
This obviously deals with three difficult tooocs; WWII viewed from German citizens bombarded with nationalism, propaganda, and fear.
The Berlin Wall where family and friends were separated.
Obviously, most triggering to our generation - COVID pandemic.
Libba Bray doesn’t hold back. Expect mentions of Working Camps, reductions, prisons, masks, #blacklivesmatter and so on.
I am in a headspace that I am able to reflect on the pandemic and see how it affected people outside of my circle, country, privilege.
‘There is no such thing as neutrality. To cooperate is to be complicit with evil.’
Yes, it is very on the nose and I think this might not appeal to some readers. Personally, it was the type of story I wouldn’t want to read regularly, but I am glad this had Bray’s voice behind it.
My take away - Never let anyone hide the truth of history.
“If memory is a protest, then I try to keep knowledge alive by teaching history, which is the record of our collective memory. I fight to include the voices of those who have been left out to make that history more comfortable for certain people. As my friend Gayle always says, “The truth will set you free. But first it hurts.”
Arc gifted by Little Brown Book Group.
Bookstagram
Northern Germany, WWII: Sophie and Hanna are best friends coming to age as Hitler gains power and WWII occurs.
West Berlin, 1980: Jenny moves from America to Berlin with her uptight parents and meets the punk undercurrent.
New York, 2020: Miles is alone facing COVID lockdown with his mums working on the front line or trapped in a different country attending ZOOM classes and eating too many cheerios.
The stories and timelines are all connected by December 22 1941 when two girls go missing: Sophie and Hanna.
I adored Libba Bray’s other YA series and even though this isn’t fantastical, the reasons I loved her other books is why I loved this. Amazing character work, relatable characters, burn down the establishment characters.
Interrogating hard hitting questions with nuance and relevance.
Nothing ever happens in a vacuum. No incident is isolated. The past is with us always. This is the lesson of history and why it is important not to forget. We are always in a conversation with history.
This obviously deals with three difficult tooocs; WWII viewed from German citizens bombarded with nationalism, propaganda, and fear.
The Berlin Wall where family and friends were separated.
Obviously, most triggering to our generation - COVID pandemic.
Libba Bray doesn’t hold back. Expect mentions of Working Camps, reductions, prisons, masks, #blacklivesmatter and so on.
I am in a headspace that I am able to reflect on the pandemic and see how it affected people outside of my circle, country, privilege.
‘There is no such thing as neutrality. To cooperate is to be complicit with evil.’
Yes, it is very on the nose and I think this might not appeal to some readers. Personally, it was the type of story I wouldn’t want to read regularly, but I am glad this had Bray’s voice behind it.
My take away - Never let anyone hide the truth of history.
“If memory is a protest, then I try to keep knowledge alive by teaching history, which is the record of our collective memory. I fight to include the voices of those who have been left out to make that history more comfortable for certain people. As my friend Gayle always says, “The truth will set you free. But first it hurts.”
Arc gifted by Little Brown Book Group.
Bookstagram
Read
October 15, 2024I’ve become a lot better at DNFing books that aren’t working for me, and for that reason I’m calling this at 32%. I really didn’t want to because I know Libba Bray is good at writing a slow burn plot — The Diviners was proof of that — but this ended up being to slow for me to want to stick with it.
This book takes place over three time periods, and they were all dramatically different in quality for me.
Starting with the 1930s one isn’t easy because this gave me absolutely nothing. I decided to DNF this book last night and it’s less than 24 hours later and I can’t tell you a single thing that happened in that period.
The next timeline, and my personal favorite/the reason I made it as far as I did, was the 1980s timeline. It was the only one that had compelling characters, romance, and mystery from the beginning. Even that one wasn’t perfect for me though and I still struggled sometimes. Mostly because of the German. Obviously it makes sense for there to be sentences in German since that’s where it’s set but it’s really difficult to be immersed in a story when I’m spending more time on my Google Translate app than my Netgalley app. Luckily a lot of the sentences are close to their English meaning and so I could guess what they meant, but the longer sentences? Let’s just say my screen time on the Google Translate app is going to skyrocket.
Lastly there was the 2020s timeline and to put it plainly — I hated it. I’m talking immediate dread sinking in when I see that date at the top. I was wary going in because I personally can’t stand reading things set during quarantine, but I figured I could get past it if the rest was good. It wasn’t, in my opinion. One of the things that bothered me the most was the humor. The characters in the Diviners series were funny and had amazing banter, but none of that was present in this timeline. The teenage characters actually said sentences like “Oh snap! She just got told!” and infinite other cringeworthy things that teenagers would probably never unironically say. There was also a lot of hashtags used, not in social media posts either but in regular texts and Zoom call messages which was insufferable. There was also a scene that spanned multiple pages where characters shared their political views, and while they did play into establishing Miles’s character, the whole thing was presented so heavy-handed that I finished the chapter feeling like I just got out of a government class.
Overall, I definitely want to revisit this at a later date because I do have hopes it will get better, but as of right now I’ve lost my will to keep trying. Two out of three of the plot lines weren’t enjoyable for me, the humor was beyond unfunny, and all the sentences I didn’t understand made this one a miss for me. From an enjoyment standpoint this is a 2 and a half but because I didn’t finish it it doesn’t feel completely fair to be rating it, so I’m just marking it as finished for now.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for proving me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆~
This book takes place over three time periods, and they were all dramatically different in quality for me.
Starting with the 1930s one isn’t easy because this gave me absolutely nothing. I decided to DNF this book last night and it’s less than 24 hours later and I can’t tell you a single thing that happened in that period.
The next timeline, and my personal favorite/the reason I made it as far as I did, was the 1980s timeline. It was the only one that had compelling characters, romance, and mystery from the beginning. Even that one wasn’t perfect for me though and I still struggled sometimes. Mostly because of the German. Obviously it makes sense for there to be sentences in German since that’s where it’s set but it’s really difficult to be immersed in a story when I’m spending more time on my Google Translate app than my Netgalley app. Luckily a lot of the sentences are close to their English meaning and so I could guess what they meant, but the longer sentences? Let’s just say my screen time on the Google Translate app is going to skyrocket.
Lastly there was the 2020s timeline and to put it plainly — I hated it. I’m talking immediate dread sinking in when I see that date at the top. I was wary going in because I personally can’t stand reading things set during quarantine, but I figured I could get past it if the rest was good. It wasn’t, in my opinion. One of the things that bothered me the most was the humor. The characters in the Diviners series were funny and had amazing banter, but none of that was present in this timeline. The teenage characters actually said sentences like “Oh snap! She just got told!” and infinite other cringeworthy things that teenagers would probably never unironically say. There was also a lot of hashtags used, not in social media posts either but in regular texts and Zoom call messages which was insufferable. There was also a scene that spanned multiple pages where characters shared their political views, and while they did play into establishing Miles’s character, the whole thing was presented so heavy-handed that I finished the chapter feeling like I just got out of a government class.
Overall, I definitely want to revisit this at a later date because I do have hopes it will get better, but as of right now I’ve lost my will to keep trying. Two out of three of the plot lines weren’t enjoyable for me, the humor was beyond unfunny, and all the sentences I didn’t understand made this one a miss for me. From an enjoyment standpoint this is a 2 and a half but because I didn’t finish it it doesn’t feel completely fair to be rating it, so I’m just marking it as finished for now.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for proving me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆~
October 8, 2025
تحت نفس النجوم
قصة تدور احداثها في ثلاث فترات زمنية ...عانت فيها الأنسانية
عانت من نازية وقمع وعنصرية...يربط بينهم تحقيق في قصة خيالية
في بلدة ألمانية صغيرة وقت سعار النازية في 1940 ، وفي برلين وقت الحرب الباردة والجدار في 1980 ، وفي أمريكا وقت الكورونا وعنصرية ووحشية شرطتها في 2020
*******القصة *******
في بلدة كلينوالد، ألمانيا عام 1941 تختفي في ظروف غامضة "صوفي" و"هانا" و"أوسكار" ، فتاتان وفتي من البلدة
صوفي فتاة حالمة تؤمن بالسحر وشجرة البلوط العتيقة "برايدجروم" بالغابة المجاورة و التي تجمع الأحباء عن طريق المراسلات بها، وهانا صديقتها المقربة الأكثر شجاعة وواقعية شيئا ما ، وأوسكار الفتي الطموح متواضع الحال الذي ينضم لجيش هتلر الذي يمنحه السلطة
وفي برلين الغربية، ألمانيا عام 1980 حيث تنتقل "جيني" طالبة ثانوية مع أسرتها من دالاس، أمريكا بسبب عمل والدها في برلين، تتعرف علي عالمها الجديد والسيدة هيرمان جارتها التي يقال انها ساحرة ولكنها فقط تؤمن بالقصص الخيالية، ويستهويها عالم ال"بانك" امنتشرين وقتها في أوروبا بموسيقتهم المعارضة للأنظمة والتقاليد القديمة وبالأخص زعيمة أحدي تلك الفرق، "لينا" والتي تعجب بها بشدة
وفي بروكلين، أمريكا عام 2020 في وقت الأنغلاق بسبب الكورونا، يعيد "مايلي" أوتار صداقته مع "كلوي" والتي تستعين بخبرته في متابعة برامج بودكاست فك ألألغاز والقضايا ليفك غموض صندوق تركته لها جدتها قبل أن تصاب بأزمة قلبية تفقدها النطق به قصاقيص عن أختفاء فتاتان وفتي في ألمانيا وقت الحرب العالمية الثانية في 1941
وفي نفس الوقت تعيد "كلوي" سماع قصة جدتها الخيالية "الأرنبة والغزالة"عن أختان وشجرة البلوط السحرية وصياد يعمل لدي الملك الشرير
تمزج المؤلفة ليبا براي تلك الثلاث فترات زمنية، مع القصة الخيالية بين طيات الكتاب بشكل فصل لكل منهم منفصل ولكن بمتابعة الكتاب ستجد خيوط بسيطة تبدأ أن تربط بينهم وتزداد تلك الخيوط قوة وسماكة بمرور الأحداث لتقدم مفاجأت عن حقيقة لغز اختفاء"صوفي" و"هانا" من الماضي ...الأمر الذي ظل صداه حتي أخر وقت
وفي طيات تلك القصص تقدم المؤلفة نقد بشكل جيد للأخطاء التي ترتكبها الأنسانية تحت النجوم ، من ظلم وعنصرية وأحكام مسبقة وحتي السلبية والأنانية وعدم التحرك للتغيير. وذلك في كل فترة من الفترات حيث تتكرر نفس الأخطاء بأشكال مختلفة
المزايا
أسلوب ربط المؤلفة لأحداث حقيقية عن فترة النازية وبعدها جدار برلين وبين عالم القصص الخيالية...وقوة وأهمية القصص الخيالية في التغلب علي الصدمات الصعبة في حياتنا
ربما من أكثر ما جذبني لأسلوب المؤلفة في سلسلتها السابقة
The Diviners
هو نقلي فعليا لنيويورك في العشرينات من القرن الماضي
هنا أيضا ستنتقل لتلك البلدة الصغيرة "كلاينوالد" –وهي تخيلية بالمناسبة- بألمانيا لتعاصر فترة النازية بحق، وأيضا تجولت في شوارع برلين الغربية جوار الجدار الشهير في الثمانينات مع جيني وعالم مطربي البانك رغم انه ليس لوني المفضل
وستتعرف علي القدرة السحرية لشجرة البلوط لجمع الاحباء التي لا تراسلها صوفي من الاربعينات ولا السيدة هيرمان من الثمانينات فحسب بل الآلاف يراسلونها حتي الان
العيوب
استمرار الأشارة للشخصيات المثلية بشكل مبالغ فيه ومقحم في كثير من المواضع
وأيضا ربما القراءة عن فترة المحادثات بالزووم بسبب الكورونا لم تكن الأفضل بالنسبة لي لأنها حادث عاصرته مؤخرا وكانت فترة كريهة بالنسبة لي وشعرت انه مبكرا جدا القراءة عنها بكل هذه التفاصيل
كما ان الفصل الأخير تطويله كان بمثابة
Anti-Climax
او قتل للذروة بسبب تطويله دون داع رغم قوة وإثارة الفصل السابق الذي قدم خاتمة ممتازة للغز
ولكن تظل الميزة الأقوي هي :
*******الشخصيات*******
رسم المؤلفة للشخصيات هو ما جذبني سابقا في سلسلة "العرافون" وهنا أيضا كان رسمها للشخصيات ممتازا في اغلبها وهم
صوفي وهانا
صداقتهما الجميلةرغم طبيعة "صوفي" الحالمة الهادئة المسالمة ونقيضتها "هانا" الواقعية القوية "البربرية" كما تطلق عليها صوفي
جيني وليناا
لم يعجبني بالتأكيد استرسال المؤلفة في وصف العلاقة ولكن ربما تقبلت قليلا توضيح كيف كانت جذور هوية جيني الجنسية تتشكل من أعجابها بممثلة في صغرها ورفض امها للتعبير عن هذا
ولكن رسم شخصية جيني أو دالاس كان مميزا وحتي علاقتها مع أمها بالاخص في النهاية
السيدة هيرمان
جارة جيني والتي لها ماضي غامض وتعشق القصص الخيالية ومنها يربط ذلك الجزء في الثمانينات بقصة صوفي وهانا
ميلي وكلوي
لم تعجبني علي الاطلاق شخصية ميلي الضعيف وكثرة حديثه عن أمه تربيع "حيث ان له أم وأم في علاقة مثلية" ورغم تغيره في النهاية الا انه الشخصية الاضعف بالنسبة للقصة بالنسبة لي
بينما كلوي صديقته منها نتعرف علي جدتها التي تترك لهم البحث وراء أختفاء صوفي وهانا من اكثر من 80 عاما لنكتشف مفاجأت بالنهاية
شجرة بلوط " باريدجروم"
وهي شجرة حقيقية موجودة بغابة بألمانيا جعلت المؤلفة منها شخصية مهمة في الأحداث، وعنصر ربط السحر الحقيقي في الفولكلور مع سحر القصص الخياليةف
******* النهاية *******
ربما لبعض السلبيات السابق ذكرها أنتقصت النجمة من التقييم ولكن يظل أسلوب المؤلفة وجعلها تنقلك لازمنة مختلفة فعليا رغم صعوبة متابعة الاحداث في البداية لزخم الشخصيات واسلوب ولغة كل عصر ومكان –وهو تقريبا نفس ما حدث معي في بداية سلسلة العرافون- ولكن بمجرد اعتيادك علي الكتاب ستجد انك لا تستطيع تركه حرفيا وستظل تلك الرحلة معلمة في ذاكراتك
محمد العربي
من ١٣ يونيو ٢٠٢٥
الي ٢٥ يونيو ٢٠٢٥
"هل نظرت قبلا لسماء الليل وتسائلت كيف تحتسبنا النجوم؟ كل الألاف السنين تشاهدنا نفعل نفس الأخطاء"
قصة تدور احداثها في ثلاث فترات زمنية ...عانت فيها الأنسانية
عانت من نازية وقمع وعنصرية...يربط بينهم تحقيق في قصة خيالية
"هل تعرفين لماذا نحكي للأطفال القصص الخيالية؟"
في بلدة ألمانية صغيرة وقت سعار النازية في 1940 ، وفي برلين وقت الحرب الباردة والجدار في 1980 ، وفي أمريكا وقت الكورونا وعنصرية ووحشية شرطتها في 2020
"نحكي لهم لنمنح الأطفال الشفرة النجاة. القصص الخيالية تحكي لنا كيف نري الوحوش. كيف نهزمهم. كيف نواصل الحياة رغم الحزن والفقدان والظلم. تعلمنا كيف نوجد المعني من الفوضي. كيف نسامح. أحيانا، في دار الرعاية داي أيخيل، عندما لا يستطيع الناس الحديث عن صدمتهم، أعطيهم ورقة وقلم وأقول، "كان ياما كان...." أطلب منهم أن يكتبوها كقصة أو خطاب، كشئ حدث لشخص ما أخر"
*******القصة *******
"ليطلقوا سراح عبء الشعور بالذنب أو العار، الغضب والحزن، كي يتمكنوا من المضي حقبا"
في بلدة كلينوالد، ألمانيا عام 1941 تختفي في ظروف غامضة "صوفي" و"هانا" و"أوسكار" ، فتاتان وفتي من البلدة
صوفي فتاة حالمة تؤمن بالسحر وشجرة البلوط العتيقة "برايدجروم" بالغابة المجاورة و التي تجمع الأحباء عن طريق المراسلات بها، وهانا صديقتها المقربة الأكثر شجاعة وواقعية شيئا ما ، وأوسكار الفتي الطموح متواضع الحال الذي ينضم لجيش هتلر الذي يمنحه السلطة
وفي برلين الغربية، ألمانيا عام 1980 حيث تنتقل "جيني" طالبة ثانوية مع أسرتها من دالاس، أمريكا بسبب عمل والدها في برلين، تتعرف علي عالمها الجديد والسيدة هيرمان جارتها التي يقال انها ساحرة ولكنها فقط تؤمن بالقصص الخيالية، ويستهويها عالم ال"بانك" امنتشرين وقتها في أوروبا بموسيقتهم المعارضة للأنظمة والتقاليد القديمة وبالأخص زعيمة أحدي تلك الفرق، "لينا" والتي تعجب بها بشدة
وفي بروكلين، أمريكا عام 2020 في وقت الأنغلاق بسبب الكورونا، يعيد "مايلي" أوتار صداقته مع "كلوي" والتي تستعين بخبرته في متابعة برامج بودكاست فك ألألغاز والقضايا ليفك غموض صندوق تركته لها جدتها قبل أن تصاب بأزمة قلبية تفقدها النطق به قصاقيص عن أختفاء فتاتان وفتي في ألمانيا وقت الحرب العالمية الثانية في 1941
وفي نفس الوقت تعيد "كلوي" سماع قصة جدتها الخيالية "الأرنبة والغزالة"عن أختان وشجرة البلوط السحرية وصياد يعمل لدي الملك الشرير
"لا أعتقد اني قد قلت لكي هذا الجزء من قبل
القصص مثل هذا، أوتعرفين؟، هناك قصص مختبئة بين القصص، مهربة بين حدودها"
تمزج المؤلفة ليبا براي تلك الثلاث فترات زمنية، مع القصة الخيالية بين طيات الكتاب بشكل فصل لكل منهم منفصل ولكن بمتابعة الكتاب ستجد خيوط بسيطة تبدأ أن تربط بينهم وتزداد تلك الخيوط قوة وسماكة بمرور الأحداث لتقدم مفاجأت عن حقيقة لغز اختفاء"صوفي" و"هانا" من الماضي ...الأمر الذي ظل صداه حتي أخر وقت
وفي طيات تلك القصص تقدم المؤلفة نقد بشكل جيد للأخطاء التي ترتكبها الأنسانية تحت النجوم ، من ظلم وعنصرية وأحكام مسبقة وحتي السلبية والأنانية وعدم التحرك للتغيير. وذلك في كل فترة من الفترات حيث تتكرر نفس الأخطاء بأشكال مختلفة
"هل نظرت قبلا لسماء الليل وتسائلت كيف تحتسبنا النجوم؟ كل الألاف السنين تشاهدنا نعمل نفس الأخطاء"
المزايا
أسلوب ربط المؤلفة لأحداث حقيقية عن فترة النازية وبعدها جدار برلين وبين عالم القصص الخيالية...وقوة وأهمية القصص الخيالية في التغلب علي الصدمات الصعبة في حياتنا
ربما من أكثر ما جذبني لأسلوب المؤلفة في سلسلتها السابقة
The Diviners
هو نقلي فعليا لنيويورك في العشرينات من القرن الماضي
هنا أيضا ستنتقل لتلك البلدة الصغيرة "كلاينوالد" –وهي تخيلية بالمناسبة- بألمانيا لتعاصر فترة النازية بحق، وأيضا تجولت في شوارع برلين الغربية جوار الجدار الشهير في الثمانينات مع جيني وعالم مطربي البانك رغم انه ليس لوني المفضل
وستتعرف علي القدرة السحرية لشجرة البلوط لجمع الاحباء التي لا تراسلها صوفي من الاربعينات ولا السيدة هيرمان من الثمانينات فحسب بل الآلاف يراسلونها حتي الان
العيوب
استمرار الأشارة للشخصيات المثلية بشكل مبالغ فيه ومقحم في كثير من المواضع
وأيضا ربما القراءة عن فترة المحادثات بالزووم بسبب الكورونا لم تكن الأفضل بالنسبة لي لأنها حادث عاصرته مؤخرا وكانت فترة كريهة بالنسبة لي وشعرت انه مبكرا جدا القراءة عنها بكل هذه التفاصيل
كما ان الفصل الأخير تطويله كان بمثابة
Anti-Climax
او قتل للذروة بسبب تطويله دون داع رغم قوة وإثارة الفصل السابق الذي قدم خاتمة ممتازة للغز
ولكن تظل الميزة الأقوي هي :
*******الشخصيات*******
رسم المؤلفة للشخصيات هو ما جذبني سابقا في سلسلة "العرافون" وهنا أيضا كان رسمها للشخصيات ممتازا في اغلبها وهم
صوفي وهانا
صداقتهما الجميلةرغم طبيعة "صوفي" الحالمة الهادئة المسالمة ونقيضتها "هانا" الواقعية القوية "البربرية" كما تطلق عليها صوفي
جيني وليناا
لم يعجبني بالتأكيد استرسال المؤلفة في وصف العلاقة ولكن ربما تقبلت قليلا توضيح كيف كانت جذور هوية جيني الجنسية تتشكل من أعجابها بممثلة في صغرها ورفض امها للتعبير عن هذا
ولكن رسم شخصية جيني أو دالاس كان مميزا وحتي علاقتها مع أمها بالاخص في النهاية
السيدة هيرمان
جارة جيني والتي لها ماضي غامض وتعشق القصص الخيالية ومنها يربط ذلك الجزء في الثمانينات بقصة صوفي وهانا
ميلي وكلوي
لم تعجبني علي الاطلاق شخصية ميلي الضعيف وكثرة حديثه عن أمه تربيع "حيث ان له أم وأم في علاقة مثلية" ورغم تغيره في النهاية الا انه الشخصية الاضعف بالنسبة للقصة بالنسبة لي
بينما كلوي صديقته منها نتعرف علي جدتها التي تترك لهم البحث وراء أختفاء صوفي وهانا من اكثر من 80 عاما لنكتشف مفاجأت بالنهاية
شجرة بلوط " باريدجروم"
وهي شجرة حقيقية موجودة بغابة بألمانيا جعلت المؤلفة منها شخصية مهمة في الأحداث، وعنصر ربط السحر الحقيقي في الفولكلور مع سحر القصص الخياليةف
******* النهاية *******
ربما لبعض السلبيات السابق ذكرها أنتقصت النجمة من التقييم ولكن يظل أسلوب المؤلفة وجعلها تنقلك لازمنة مختلفة فعليا رغم صعوبة متابعة الاحداث في البداية لزخم الشخصيات واسلوب ولغة كل عصر ومكان –وهو تقريبا نفس ما حدث معي في بداية سلسلة العرافون- ولكن بمجرد اعتيادك علي الكتاب ستجد انك لا تستطيع تركه حرفيا وستظل تلك الرحلة معلمة في ذاكراتك
محمد العربي
من ١٣ يونيو ٢٠٢٥
الي ٢٥ يونيو ٢٠٢٥
February 21, 2025
BOOK✶FEATURE
#ad many thanks for my advance copy + finished copy + the audio @libbabrey + @fiercereads #partner
🆄🅽🅳🅴🆁 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🅰🅼🅴 🆂🆃🅰🆁🆂
I don’t think I’ve ever read a more gripping YA book before. I absolutely loved this book! Spanning across three eras - 1940’s, 1980’s, 2020’s - the story unfolds with unique characters and circumstances in each period, but all are intertwined in an intriguing way.
The story highlights how one thing happening over there can have effects of what is happening over here. The book is written so perfectly - you become one with the story - it’s gripping in every sense.
It was interesting to see the different stories unfold. One begins in 1940 with sisters running from their community after the war. In 1980’s we follow the Campbell’s as they move to Germany before the wall came down. And in 2020 we are drawn into the pandemic world with the lockdowns and a true crime podcast. The blending of these stories and the larger message was just the best reading experience.
I enjoyed the three time periods; and it was interesting to analyze what the differences and similarities were between the three.
The audio of this is just fabulous. January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Major Curda, make this story come alive and were the perfect match for this book. Having three narrators also helps keep the story in order for you and I think audio listeners will appreciate this greatly.
While this is classified as a YA book it can be enjoyed by any reader. It’s a well-rounded story that many will find hard to put down.
Taking German in high school has finally paid off - not that I can even speak it - but knowing some of it and being able to understand some of what was being said in German was pretty cool. (There’s only short sentences or sayings in German - this book is English, mostly. 99.9999999% anyways.)
#ad many thanks for my advance copy + finished copy + the audio @libbabrey + @fiercereads #partner
🆄🅽🅳🅴🆁 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🅰🅼🅴 🆂🆃🅰🆁🆂
I don’t think I’ve ever read a more gripping YA book before. I absolutely loved this book! Spanning across three eras - 1940’s, 1980’s, 2020’s - the story unfolds with unique characters and circumstances in each period, but all are intertwined in an intriguing way.
The story highlights how one thing happening over there can have effects of what is happening over here. The book is written so perfectly - you become one with the story - it’s gripping in every sense.
It was interesting to see the different stories unfold. One begins in 1940 with sisters running from their community after the war. In 1980’s we follow the Campbell’s as they move to Germany before the wall came down. And in 2020 we are drawn into the pandemic world with the lockdowns and a true crime podcast. The blending of these stories and the larger message was just the best reading experience.
I enjoyed the three time periods; and it was interesting to analyze what the differences and similarities were between the three.
The audio of this is just fabulous. January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Major Curda, make this story come alive and were the perfect match for this book. Having three narrators also helps keep the story in order for you and I think audio listeners will appreciate this greatly.
While this is classified as a YA book it can be enjoyed by any reader. It’s a well-rounded story that many will find hard to put down.
Taking German in high school has finally paid off - not that I can even speak it - but knowing some of it and being able to understand some of what was being said in German was pretty cool. (There’s only short sentences or sayings in German - this book is English, mostly. 99.9999999% anyways.)
January 3, 2025
Quite possibly one of my favorite historical fiction reads to date. The way the author was able to weave the stories over the course of nearly a century and bring it all together in the end was really powerful. It was such an incredible reminder that nothing happens in a vacuum, and events that took place 80+ years ago still affect us today.
Want to read
June 26, 2024NEW LIBBA BRAY??? SHUT UP, IM SO EXCITED!!!
December 22, 2024
The reason I don’t tout that I love historical fiction is because it’s a hit or miss category. Especially when it goes into the WWII niche. It’s very easy for me to get burnt out on the topic.
It didn’t help that 30% into this ARC, I was questioning if I was mentally ready for Covid-related plots (this is a multigenerational story).
But Libby Bray has done this to me before with her Diviners series. Where, in the start, I don’t think I’ll connect with her immature characters and the jargon is throwing me off my escapism experience, but in the end, I’m reaching for a tissue box.
I think people need sparks of hope in uncertain times and this checks those boxes.
I think it helps having January LaVoy on this audiobook. She crushed the Diviners series, so I was delighted to have her back for this story.
The biggest difference for me- is though there is something “fairy tale” chatter in this- I missed the paranormal fantasy/magic in this plot vs the level of it in the Diviners. Like TBH, I was surprised this didn’t have the “women’s fiction” tag on this.
I can’t wait to see what Bray creates next… until then I need I need to bump up her Gemma Doyle series up in the TBR.
3.5/ 3.75 - 5
TY #MacAudio2024 for this ARC!
It didn’t help that 30% into this ARC, I was questioning if I was mentally ready for Covid-related plots (this is a multigenerational story).
But Libby Bray has done this to me before with her Diviners series. Where, in the start, I don’t think I’ll connect with her immature characters and the jargon is throwing me off my escapism experience, but in the end, I’m reaching for a tissue box.
I think people need sparks of hope in uncertain times and this checks those boxes.
I think it helps having January LaVoy on this audiobook. She crushed the Diviners series, so I was delighted to have her back for this story.
The biggest difference for me- is though there is something “fairy tale” chatter in this- I missed the paranormal fantasy/magic in this plot vs the level of it in the Diviners. Like TBH, I was surprised this didn’t have the “women’s fiction” tag on this.
I can’t wait to see what Bray creates next… until then I need I need to bump up her Gemma Doyle series up in the TBR.
3.5/ 3.75 - 5
TY #MacAudio2024 for this ARC!
February 3, 2025
4 Stars
This story was all-encompassing and truly a wonderful tale that takes you through multiple timelines and how the individuals in those eras tackle the continuous fallout and devastation of World War II. I found myself drawn in to the narrative of the WWII era and the 80s punk era moreso than the modern COVID era, but all stories wove together so beautifully that this story will have far-lasting impacts.
* thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest an unbiased review *
This story was all-encompassing and truly a wonderful tale that takes you through multiple timelines and how the individuals in those eras tackle the continuous fallout and devastation of World War II. I found myself drawn in to the narrative of the WWII era and the 80s punk era moreso than the modern COVID era, but all stories wove together so beautifully that this story will have far-lasting impacts.
* thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest an unbiased review *
February 17, 2025
While not perfect, it is perfect for this moment in time.
Must read and if any middle school and/or high school teachers could fit it in their class libraries, please do.
Must read and if any middle school and/or high school teachers could fit it in their class libraries, please do.
February 16, 2025
Bray's back and this time in a sweeping historical fiction story that includes three time periods: 1940s, 1980s, and 2020s when significant global events affected the world including Nazis in Germany and World War II, the Berlin Wall, and the pandemic.
The only disappointment is that between Katherine Marsh's The Lost Year and the talent and breadth of Alan Gratz, it was derivative. It didn't feel inventive. What kept me reading (especially for the full cast audiobook) was the vivid character portraits and storylines of the characters however. Making the connections between the three eras and situations is a category that is well-loved for those that seek it, so it will be embraced.
The only disappointment is that between Katherine Marsh's The Lost Year and the talent and breadth of Alan Gratz, it was derivative. It didn't feel inventive. What kept me reading (especially for the full cast audiobook) was the vivid character portraits and storylines of the characters however. Making the connections between the three eras and situations is a category that is well-loved for those that seek it, so it will be embraced.
June 18, 2025
I enjoyed the writing style. I liked the story but it felt too long. Character development was great. I'm not usually a fan of dual timelines but I can see how it was necessary here, and the author did a good job with it. I would probably read more by this author. This was a traveling book in LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club on Facebook.
Read
February 24, 2025Writing about Hitler and Floyd in one book is extremely strange. The author tries to combine a fairy tale, the times of Hitler's Germany, the FRG and the GDR (with the terrible Soviet Union, of course), add covid, bml, lgbt, teenage pregnancy... and ALL this on 500 pages.
Of course, you have to far-fetch something that will unite it all, and that's where the confusing family ties and average "detective investigations" begin.
The author has a pleasant style, but this has nothing to do with the plot.
disappointed!!
Of course, you have to far-fetch something that will unite it all, and that's where the confusing family ties and average "detective investigations" begin.
The author has a pleasant style, but this has nothing to do with the plot.
disappointed!!
January 6, 2026
Under the Same Stars said “why have one timeline when you can have THREE” and honestly? Respect. Was it ambitious? Extremely. Did it sometimes make my brain do gymnastics? Yes. Did it mostly work anyway? Also yes.
My favorite timeline by FAR was Jenny in West Berlin, 1980. That one had vibes, atmosphere, and fully formed characters. I was locked in. If the whole book had stayed there, I would’ve happily lived in that timeline forever.
Now… the 2020 timeline. This one did not hit the same. I think we’re just too close to that time period to get any deep, meaningful reflection yet. It felt more like “hey remember this?” than “wow, this is emotionally devastating.” The characters in this section also felt the least developed, like sketches instead of full people. HOWEVER! I do see why it exists. Its main job was clearly to tie everything together, and to be fair, it did understood the assignment.
The third timeline lands somewhere in the middle. It was solid, interesting, occasionally chaotic—but nothing topped Jenny’s story for me.
Overall, this book is thoughtful, layered, and not afraid to take big swings. Did every timeline work equally? No. Did I still finish the book impressed and emotionally invested? Absolutely. Four stars for ambition, vibes, and Jenny carrying the book on her back. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨Connect with Me ✨
BookTube: Ginnie ReadsGinnie Reads
BookTok: @ginniereads
Bookstagram: @ginniereads
Discord Book Club: Totally Booked Club
Fable book club: We Read YA! Book Club
My favorite timeline by FAR was Jenny in West Berlin, 1980. That one had vibes, atmosphere, and fully formed characters. I was locked in. If the whole book had stayed there, I would’ve happily lived in that timeline forever.
Now… the 2020 timeline. This one did not hit the same. I think we’re just too close to that time period to get any deep, meaningful reflection yet. It felt more like “hey remember this?” than “wow, this is emotionally devastating.” The characters in this section also felt the least developed, like sketches instead of full people. HOWEVER! I do see why it exists. Its main job was clearly to tie everything together, and to be fair, it did understood the assignment.
The third timeline lands somewhere in the middle. It was solid, interesting, occasionally chaotic—but nothing topped Jenny’s story for me.
Overall, this book is thoughtful, layered, and not afraid to take big swings. Did every timeline work equally? No. Did I still finish the book impressed and emotionally invested? Absolutely. Four stars for ambition, vibes, and Jenny carrying the book on her back. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨Connect with Me ✨
BookTube: Ginnie ReadsGinnie Reads
BookTok: @ginniereads
Bookstagram: @ginniereads
Discord Book Club: Totally Booked Club
Fable book club: We Read YA! Book Club
January 6, 2025
I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway, and I was so excited to dive into it. The author weaved a masterful story about war, hope, resistance, resilience, love, loss, friendship, coming of age, and learning from the past. All three of the plot lines were richly detailed and flowed seamlessly together. I felt like I was right there with Sophie, Hanna, Jenny, Lena, Miles, and Chloe. Each of their stories was unique and poignant. Sophie saw the beauty in life, believed in the magic of it too, and did what she could to save those in danger. Jenny was trying to find her self in an ever changing world. She used her camera and her voice to spotlight the injustices of the world. Miles was struggling in a pandemic era world to find his place and his voice. When he did, he made sure to make it count. This one was unputdownable for me. I had to know what was going to happen next. I was able to piece together some of the big reveals, but it all came together in a way I wasn’t anticipating. I wished for a little more resolution between Jenny and Lena, but overall their ending was fitting for their story. The ending of this book made me cry, but it wrapped up the whole story beautifully. I appreciated the hopeful tone. This book was a timely reminder that teenagedom is messy and complicated and also beautiful in its complexity. It’s also a reminder that our voices matter, and it’s important to stand up for what we believe in especially when it feels hopeless.
January 30, 2025
I've loved Libba Bray since she wrote the Great and Terrible Beauty series and CHANGED my TEENAGE LIFE. While not fantasy, this book was just as full of her trademark humor, hope, and heart. It was a balm to read.
tbr-overdrive
August 27, 2021Libba Bray can do historical fiction like few authors can. The title has me intrigued.
February 5, 2025
It's 1939 and Hanna and Sophie are two girls living during difficult times. Things are changing in their village with the arrival of Nazis. But like any teenage girls from their village, they look to the Bridgegroom's Oak tree for answers as it has matchmaking abilities. But matchmaking is not what they find there and meanwhile, the Nazis become more overbearing every day. Fast forward to the 1980s in West Berlin. Jenny has moved, along with her family, from the United States to West Berlin due to her father's work. Jenny comes from a preppy Dallas family, so the West Berlin scene is new to her. She befriends Lena, a punk, and Lena challenges her long-held beliefs in almost every area of her life. Lastly, in 2020, there's Miles and Chloe who work on a mystery surrounding Chloe's grandmother's scrapbook. They learn of two girls who disappeared from her grandmother's village and with the help of some internet sleuthing they get some answers. Each story thread has themes of overcoming oppression and ultimately of hope. Libba Bray's Under the Same Stars is a historical mystery that will be sure to keep readers flipping pages.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
January 17, 2026
3.5 stars
June 9, 2025
As with most novels that skip between a modern storyline and history, I could've skipped the modern. It pushed the book into being a Message book, or a frying pan novel, and was a bit much for adult me. Thankfully for Bray, I am not, in fact, her target audience and am happy to have this in my library.
Really loved both the 80s and the 40s storylines though. Time to rewatch of What to Do in Case of Fire and lift a glass for Herr T who worked so hard to share the German culture with all of us.
Really loved both the 80s and the 40s storylines though. Time to rewatch of What to Do in Case of Fire and lift a glass for Herr T who worked so hard to share the German culture with all of us.
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