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The Stargazers
Sunday Times Top 5 bestselling author Harriet Evans returns with an unputdownable tale of the infinite possibilities of familes - how they can anchor you or unseat you - and why unconditional love holds the key to true freedom. A must-read for lovers of Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley and Santa Montefiore.
How can you ever know yourself when you were deprived of love as a child?
It's the 1970s, and Sarah has spent a lifetime trying to bury her disjointed childhood, the loneliness of her school days, and Fane, the vast and crumbling family home so loved - and hated - by her mother, Iris, a woman as cruel as she is beautiful. Sarah's solace has been her cello and the music that allowed her to dream, transporting her from the bleakness of those early years to a new life now with Daniel, her husband, in their noisy Hampstead home surrounded by bohemian friends and with a concert career that has brought her fame and restored a sense of self.
The past, though, has a habit of creeping into the present, and as long as Sarah tries to escape, it seems the pull of Fane, her mother, and the secrets of the generations hidden there, are slowly being revealed, threatening to unravel the fragile happiness she enjoys in the here and now. Sarah will need to travel back to Fane to confront her childhood and search for the true meaning of home.
Deliciously absorbing and rich with character and atmosphere, The Stargazers is the story of a house, a family, and the legacies of childhoods fractured through time and inheritance.
Readers love Harriet Evans' captivating and twisty stories . . .
'Bewitching, beguiling and utterly beautiful' VERONICA HENRY'
'Gorgeous, gothic and gripping' RED
' 'Taut as a drumskin and thrumming with tension ' HEAT
' R ich and sweeping . . . dark and delicious' DAILY MAIL
How can you ever know yourself when you were deprived of love as a child?
It's the 1970s, and Sarah has spent a lifetime trying to bury her disjointed childhood, the loneliness of her school days, and Fane, the vast and crumbling family home so loved - and hated - by her mother, Iris, a woman as cruel as she is beautiful. Sarah's solace has been her cello and the music that allowed her to dream, transporting her from the bleakness of those early years to a new life now with Daniel, her husband, in their noisy Hampstead home surrounded by bohemian friends and with a concert career that has brought her fame and restored a sense of self.
The past, though, has a habit of creeping into the present, and as long as Sarah tries to escape, it seems the pull of Fane, her mother, and the secrets of the generations hidden there, are slowly being revealed, threatening to unravel the fragile happiness she enjoys in the here and now. Sarah will need to travel back to Fane to confront her childhood and search for the true meaning of home.
Deliciously absorbing and rich with character and atmosphere, The Stargazers is the story of a house, a family, and the legacies of childhoods fractured through time and inheritance.
Readers love Harriet Evans' captivating and twisty stories . . .
'Bewitching, beguiling and utterly beautiful' VERONICA HENRY'
'Gorgeous, gothic and gripping' RED
' 'Taut as a drumskin and thrumming with tension ' HEAT
' R ich and sweeping . . . dark and delicious' DAILY MAIL
416 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2023
149 people are currently reading
1649 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Evans
109 books1,206 followersI was born in London and grew up there. I was very bookish, and had a huge imagination which used to cause me to get rather anxious at times. Now I know it's a good thing for a writer to have. I loved musicals, and playing imaginative games, and my Barbie perfume making kit. Most of all I loved reading. I read everything, but I also read lots of things over and over, which I think is so important.
At university I read Classical Studies, which is a great way of finding out that the world doesn't change much and people make the same mistakes but it's interesting to look at why. I was at Bristol, and i loved the city, making new friends, being a new person.
After university I came back to London and got a job in publishing. I loved working in publishing so much, and really felt for the first time in my life that when I spoke people understood what I was saying. Book people are good people. I became an editor after a few years, working with many bestselling novelists, and in 2009 I left to write full time.
I've written 13 novels and several short stories and one Quick Read, which is an excellent way of getting people into reading more. I've acquired a partner and two children along the way.
In 2019 we moved to Bath, out of London, and I am very happy there. We live opposite a hedgerow, and I can be boring about gardening, and there's room for my collection of jumpsuits and all our books. We have lots of books. Apart from anything else they keep the house warm. xxx
At university I read Classical Studies, which is a great way of finding out that the world doesn't change much and people make the same mistakes but it's interesting to look at why. I was at Bristol, and i loved the city, making new friends, being a new person.
After university I came back to London and got a job in publishing. I loved working in publishing so much, and really felt for the first time in my life that when I spoke people understood what I was saying. Book people are good people. I became an editor after a few years, working with many bestselling novelists, and in 2009 I left to write full time.
I've written 13 novels and several short stories and one Quick Read, which is an excellent way of getting people into reading more. I've acquired a partner and two children along the way.
In 2019 we moved to Bath, out of London, and I am very happy there. We live opposite a hedgerow, and I can be boring about gardening, and there's room for my collection of jumpsuits and all our books. We have lots of books. Apart from anything else they keep the house warm. xxx
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 6, 2023
This book made me considerably frustrated.
Whoever edited it left out many words and sentences, repeated continuously, and many mistakes.
For example, the cats were called Peter and Wendy because Mr Green took them to see Peter Pan (repeated THREE times).
On another occasion, Sarah and the Bird Boy were talking, he explained to her everything about the stars and she was fascinated by the stories he had to tell.
A few pages later, Sarah said “You don’t know very much about stars, do you?”.
The names change all the time. On the same page, someone is called Barbara Forbers, Miss Barbara and just Barbara. Pick one and stick with it.
Or in one page, a Caramac bar was given to the child. A couple of pages later, she was eating a Mars bar.
No, they are not the same thing.
Also, I didn’t like all the sex parts at the start. I don’t mind them per se, I enjoyed reading Bridgerton and dreaming of a man like the Duke. I just wasn’t expecting from THIS book to read about dried semen on the protagonist legs. It was unnecessary.
The twist at the end, in the last few pages, was the only interesting part.
Sarah was a pain during the whole book. And I have no words for her selfish husband.
Whoever edited it left out many words and sentences, repeated continuously, and many mistakes.
For example, the cats were called Peter and Wendy because Mr Green took them to see Peter Pan (repeated THREE times).
On another occasion, Sarah and the Bird Boy were talking, he explained to her everything about the stars and she was fascinated by the stories he had to tell.
A few pages later, Sarah said “You don’t know very much about stars, do you?”.
The names change all the time. On the same page, someone is called Barbara Forbers, Miss Barbara and just Barbara. Pick one and stick with it.
Or in one page, a Caramac bar was given to the child. A couple of pages later, she was eating a Mars bar.
No, they are not the same thing.
Also, I didn’t like all the sex parts at the start. I don’t mind them per se, I enjoyed reading Bridgerton and dreaming of a man like the Duke. I just wasn’t expecting from THIS book to read about dried semen on the protagonist legs. It was unnecessary.
The twist at the end, in the last few pages, was the only interesting part.
Sarah was a pain during the whole book. And I have no words for her selfish husband.
June 9, 2024
The cruelty of childhood, the confusion of adulthood and the joy of finding comfort in small acts of kindness. Hugely satisfying family drama spread over serval decades full of secrets and a couple of neat surprises.
April 19, 2024
Quite disappointing :( 2.25 stars
September 17, 2023
Wow! This book was amazing and i think my favourite book of 2023.
I loved it from the very first page and am going to find it hard to start another book for a few days. This is going to be the book I am recommending to everyone, especiallly fans of multiple time line stories, family drama and historical fiction.
This was such an immersive story and I feel like I've visited Fane Hall in its decrepit state. I was so absorbed in the world of Sarah and her sister Victoria and their devastating daily life. Iris was a fascinating character whose motives and behaviour were so hard to understand.
There was so much sadness in this story but also an amazing love story, some brilliant friendships and an uplifting message of hope. The stargazer scene was one of my favourite parts of the book and the determination of the main characters to keep going in the face of so many trauma and negativity was incredible. There were even a few unexpected twists in the storyline towards the end of the book which really took me by surprise!
This book will definitely stay with me. Harriet Evans wrote "The novels that meant the most to me were the ones on a shelf that were well-thumbed, spines cracked: books about families and secrets and the past - because the past is never, ever finished, it's with us everywhere. Novels like Rebecca, The Secret History, Wildacre, and I Capture The Castle. I'd love The Stargazers to be one of those books." For me The Stargazers absolutely is!
I haven't read any of Harriet Evans other novels yet but I will definitely be working my way through her back catalogue, starting with The Beloved Girls which is on my tbr.
I loved it from the very first page and am going to find it hard to start another book for a few days. This is going to be the book I am recommending to everyone, especiallly fans of multiple time line stories, family drama and historical fiction.
This was such an immersive story and I feel like I've visited Fane Hall in its decrepit state. I was so absorbed in the world of Sarah and her sister Victoria and their devastating daily life. Iris was a fascinating character whose motives and behaviour were so hard to understand.
There was so much sadness in this story but also an amazing love story, some brilliant friendships and an uplifting message of hope. The stargazer scene was one of my favourite parts of the book and the determination of the main characters to keep going in the face of so many trauma and negativity was incredible. There were even a few unexpected twists in the storyline towards the end of the book which really took me by surprise!
This book will definitely stay with me. Harriet Evans wrote "The novels that meant the most to me were the ones on a shelf that were well-thumbed, spines cracked: books about families and secrets and the past - because the past is never, ever finished, it's with us everywhere. Novels like Rebecca, The Secret History, Wildacre, and I Capture The Castle. I'd love The Stargazers to be one of those books." For me The Stargazers absolutely is!
I haven't read any of Harriet Evans other novels yet but I will definitely be working my way through her back catalogue, starting with The Beloved Girls which is on my tbr.
November 9, 2023
I am so unbelievably disappointed in this novel. The blurb promised so much, but the reality was for me just the opposite.
I can't understand where the glowing 4 and 5 star reviews come from.
It is utterly depressing all the way through with no redeeming characters whatsoever. Sarah, the main protagonist, was extremely annoying, as was her dippy husband Daniel.
The character of Iris, the mother, was so over the top awful that I couldn't even begin to explain her disgusting treatment of her poor daughters.
I couldn't wait to get to the end just so I could consign it to the back of the cupboard.
I only awarded 2 stars for the couple of slight unexpected twists. Otherwise, no, not for me.
I can't understand where the glowing 4 and 5 star reviews come from.
It is utterly depressing all the way through with no redeeming characters whatsoever. Sarah, the main protagonist, was extremely annoying, as was her dippy husband Daniel.
The character of Iris, the mother, was so over the top awful that I couldn't even begin to explain her disgusting treatment of her poor daughters.
I couldn't wait to get to the end just so I could consign it to the back of the cupboard.
I only awarded 2 stars for the couple of slight unexpected twists. Otherwise, no, not for me.
November 6, 2023
Wow, what a breathtaking book. I can feel that this one will stay with me a while, hence an easy 5⭐️ rating.
This is an epic family saga spanning a century, from 1920 - 2020. The horrors of Sarah’s harsh childhood have shaped the person she has become and we see her navigate life as she discovers the truth of her monstrous mother’s own childhood.
At the centre of it all stands the imposing manor house, Fane, which really is a spectacular character in its own right.
I’m a long time fan of Harriet Evans and this didn’t disappoint. And such a beautiful cover!
Be warned, there are triggers aplenty and this isn’t always an easy read, but well worth it.
This is an epic family saga spanning a century, from 1920 - 2020. The horrors of Sarah’s harsh childhood have shaped the person she has become and we see her navigate life as she discovers the truth of her monstrous mother’s own childhood.
At the centre of it all stands the imposing manor house, Fane, which really is a spectacular character in its own right.
I’m a long time fan of Harriet Evans and this didn’t disappoint. And such a beautiful cover!
Be warned, there are triggers aplenty and this isn’t always an easy read, but well worth it.
August 7, 2023
'Don't you think there should be a name for people like us?' he said. 'Who look up and who dream of more, who dream of escaping? Who never lose faith, no matter how hard it becomes?'
The stargazers follows the complex story of the family linked to the fictional Fane Hall. Primarily the stories of Sarah and her mother Iris. Through time shifts Evans weaves a complex patchwork to tell the story that as ever has so many different layers. At times I struggled with the lack of a chronological narrative, although seeing the characters at various stages of their lives added another dimension and richness to them. That was just delectable.
Evans as usual crafts a story rich in twists and turns, characters continue to develop throughout the novel and nobody is quite as they seem at the first encounter. I felt Evans depiction of trauma was uncomfortably accurate and the strained relationships created as a result of the neglect suffered by various characters made sections of the book incredibly hard to read. The fact that Evans did not shy away from this portrayal in the novel is commendable.
I wanted to love this as much as my favourite novel by Evans, The Garden of Lost and Found, but something didn't flow in quite the same way for me. It's still beautifully written and a book that will stay with my for a long time to come. A clear four star read that I urge you to persevere with, it took me a while to settle into the narrative for this one. A huge thank you to Harriet Evans and Headline books for the ARC copy to review.
The stargazers follows the complex story of the family linked to the fictional Fane Hall. Primarily the stories of Sarah and her mother Iris. Through time shifts Evans weaves a complex patchwork to tell the story that as ever has so many different layers. At times I struggled with the lack of a chronological narrative, although seeing the characters at various stages of their lives added another dimension and richness to them. That was just delectable.
Evans as usual crafts a story rich in twists and turns, characters continue to develop throughout the novel and nobody is quite as they seem at the first encounter. I felt Evans depiction of trauma was uncomfortably accurate and the strained relationships created as a result of the neglect suffered by various characters made sections of the book incredibly hard to read. The fact that Evans did not shy away from this portrayal in the novel is commendable.
I wanted to love this as much as my favourite novel by Evans, The Garden of Lost and Found, but something didn't flow in quite the same way for me. It's still beautifully written and a book that will stay with my for a long time to come. A clear four star read that I urge you to persevere with, it took me a while to settle into the narrative for this one. A huge thank you to Harriet Evans and Headline books for the ARC copy to review.
April 25, 2024
Grim, dreary, and with absolutely no redeeming characters. Thanks!
April 6, 2024
3.5 stars
April 11, 2024
Terrible. Hated it. Didn't see the point. If you want a very depressing and dark read, this is the book for you. No idea why lockdown was mentioned at the end, felt a bit like box ticking.
Sorry for the bad review but I'm angry at myself for wasting my time on this book.
Sorry for the bad review but I'm angry at myself for wasting my time on this book.
April 13, 2024
This book just didn’t engage me I didn’t enjoy it many of the characters were unappealing and the dialogue was clumsy , far too many jolly this and jolly that etc I was relieved to get to the end.
April 18, 2024
Gosh this was not what I expected. I found it super depressing, odd characters, strange story, erratic. It rounded off at the end, but it truly felt never ever ending.
February 15, 2024
The Stargazers by Harriet Evans comes out in the UK today in paperback, so I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you why you should read this book.
This is a story of obsession, of talent, of a crumbling house, of a family secret hidden so deep in the past that it has been all but forgotten. It is also a story of love, and coincidence, and meaning.
Sarah is meant to play the cello. She knows this with every fibre of her being. But she is so bogged down a mother whose sole obsession is with the family’s decomposing ancestral home that it is difficult to see a way out, to see a future for herself where her dreams are realized.
Moving between the 1970s, where in a safe Hampstead home in London Sarah lives with her husband Daniel, and 1954 at Fane Hall in Sussex, where at 12 years old Sarah lives in constant fear.
There are many moving scenes in this book. Let’s just say, tissues were necessary on more than one occasion. I’m going to give you a glimpse at one of my favourites.
Besides Sarah, there was another character who stole my heart. At one point he is remembering his mother, who has died and I sobbed. While writing this review, I read that passage to myself again and I sobbed yet again.
I considered sharing it here, but I think it is better read when you are glued to the pages of this incredible book. I hope you will get the chance to experience that, because this one is special. Really special.
Here’s a word of advice. If you are going to start reading a Harriet Evans novel, you had better clear your schedule. I keep making the same mistake with her books in thinking I can dip in and out whenever I choose. But, no. Once you open one of her books you give up all control. Before you know it, you will have stayed up WAY past your bedtime. You won’t be able to put it down until you reach the end.
Oh, and make sure you have another of Harriet Evans books waiting in the wings. I saved this one for much too long for the simple reason that it was the only one I had on my shelf. As soon as I finished it, I immediately got myself another. Having read and enjoyed The Beloved Girls and The Garden of Lost and Found , I chose The Wildflowers . I can’t wait to read it.
This is a story of obsession, of talent, of a crumbling house, of a family secret hidden so deep in the past that it has been all but forgotten. It is also a story of love, and coincidence, and meaning.
Sarah is meant to play the cello. She knows this with every fibre of her being. But she is so bogged down a mother whose sole obsession is with the family’s decomposing ancestral home that it is difficult to see a way out, to see a future for herself where her dreams are realized.
Moving between the 1970s, where in a safe Hampstead home in London Sarah lives with her husband Daniel, and 1954 at Fane Hall in Sussex, where at 12 years old Sarah lives in constant fear.
There are many moving scenes in this book. Let’s just say, tissues were necessary on more than one occasion. I’m going to give you a glimpse at one of my favourites.
‘Don’t you think there should be a name for people like us?’ he said. ‘Who look up and who dream of more, who dream of escaping? Who never lose faith, no matter how hard it becomes?’
‘Stargazers,’ I said. ‘That’s what we are.’
Besides Sarah, there was another character who stole my heart. At one point he is remembering his mother, who has died and I sobbed. While writing this review, I read that passage to myself again and I sobbed yet again.
I considered sharing it here, but I think it is better read when you are glued to the pages of this incredible book. I hope you will get the chance to experience that, because this one is special. Really special.
Here’s a word of advice. If you are going to start reading a Harriet Evans novel, you had better clear your schedule. I keep making the same mistake with her books in thinking I can dip in and out whenever I choose. But, no. Once you open one of her books you give up all control. Before you know it, you will have stayed up WAY past your bedtime. You won’t be able to put it down until you reach the end.
Oh, and make sure you have another of Harriet Evans books waiting in the wings. I saved this one for much too long for the simple reason that it was the only one I had on my shelf. As soon as I finished it, I immediately got myself another. Having read and enjoyed The Beloved Girls and The Garden of Lost and Found , I chose The Wildflowers . I can’t wait to read it.
September 23, 2023
This is a rich and captivating story which features a mysterious large derelict house, a family with complex history, dynamics, drama and secrets, and above all the courage to keep moving on and fulfil your own dreams in spite of adversity.
Sarah has spent a lifetime burying difficult memories of her childhood; the fear of returning home to the uninviting and crumbling Fane Hall that her mother Iris is obsessed with, who treats both her and her sister Vic cruelly, the lonely days at school and being bullied for being different. She takes comfort in playing her cello and the music, and an encounter with a young boy that encourages her to look up at the stars and the dreams that await. Even though her new life is full of love with her husband Daniel and she is safe in her new home in Hampstead, Sarah’s past threatens to disrupt and unravel the happiness that is hanging on by a thread. Sarah will need to travel back to Fane Hall and confront her past…
The story is intoxicating from the get-go, immersing you into Sarah’s world and the family, friends and acquaintances around her. All the characters are beautifully realised, even all the less palatable characters (which there are many) that seem so real and fully formed with their flaws as well as redeeming characteristics on display. It is a story full of heartbreak particularly with Sarah’s painful and traumatising childhood and her mother is vicious!! Despite the bleak nature of that part of the narrative, there is a lot of joy, hope and love that shines like the stars in the dark night sky. It is in part a coming-of-age story which are stories I absolutely adore.
Haunting, lyrical and intricately plotted. Absolute lush read! And it has the most stunning finished cover too 🤩
Sarah has spent a lifetime burying difficult memories of her childhood; the fear of returning home to the uninviting and crumbling Fane Hall that her mother Iris is obsessed with, who treats both her and her sister Vic cruelly, the lonely days at school and being bullied for being different. She takes comfort in playing her cello and the music, and an encounter with a young boy that encourages her to look up at the stars and the dreams that await. Even though her new life is full of love with her husband Daniel and she is safe in her new home in Hampstead, Sarah’s past threatens to disrupt and unravel the happiness that is hanging on by a thread. Sarah will need to travel back to Fane Hall and confront her past…
The story is intoxicating from the get-go, immersing you into Sarah’s world and the family, friends and acquaintances around her. All the characters are beautifully realised, even all the less palatable characters (which there are many) that seem so real and fully formed with their flaws as well as redeeming characteristics on display. It is a story full of heartbreak particularly with Sarah’s painful and traumatising childhood and her mother is vicious!! Despite the bleak nature of that part of the narrative, there is a lot of joy, hope and love that shines like the stars in the dark night sky. It is in part a coming-of-age story which are stories I absolutely adore.
Haunting, lyrical and intricately plotted. Absolute lush read! And it has the most stunning finished cover too 🤩
October 12, 2023
I always get really excited when a Harriet Evan’s book is published. However this time I found this book to be not quite as good as the rest.
It took me a long time to get into it and a couple of times I nearly stopped reading, the only reason I didn’t was because of who the author was.
It seemed to go on forever and OMG the writing is tiny !!
Don’t get me wrong the writing is, as always brilliant BUT it doesn’t for, want of better word, dance, it sort of just walks.
I give this book 4⭐️’s
It took me a long time to get into it and a couple of times I nearly stopped reading, the only reason I didn’t was because of who the author was.
It seemed to go on forever and OMG the writing is tiny !!
Don’t get me wrong the writing is, as always brilliant BUT it doesn’t for, want of better word, dance, it sort of just walks.
I give this book 4⭐️’s
October 30, 2023
4,5 slow burner
April 15, 2024
Amazing book! Bit slow to begin with but once it got started, it was such a good, addictive read 🫶🏼
November 6, 2024
It’s a shame you can’t give half stars on here as this would have been a 3.5. Very long and drawn out to get a 4 from me but an enjoyable read nonetheless.
February 10, 2025
Massive fan of Harriet Evans, but this one didn't do it for me. So much darkness and pain, and the randomness of the explanation at the end just didn't work for me.
July 5, 2025
2.5⭐️
July 26, 2025
a good interesting story..but the bouncing back and fowards between years didn't make it better, just a little awkward and disjointed
February 17, 2024
4.5 🌟 i really love Harriet Evans writing, everything is so beautifully thought out, i wish i could read more. I really loved the early years chapters more than Sarah as an adult, which felt slightly disconnected, but as a whole i fell in love with the enchanting story & i cant wait for her next release 💓
October 18, 2024
3.5 stars - While I enjoyed the overall plot I felt that all the characters were one dimensional with the exception of Sarah, and at times Daniel. Particularly Vic? I was trying to understand her and was quite disappointed with the overall relationship between the two sisters. There also was not a clear revolution, but made for quite an interesting read.
September 26, 2023
This is an atmospheric read, centred around houses and how they can shape a sense of identity, and a sense of belonging. As the story begins it is 1922. Fane Hall had been owned by Lord Earl Ashley and his wife, but when the Earl dies at the end of the First World War 1918 the house will automatically go to his brother Clive, had Lord And lady Ashley had a son then the property would have gone to that son. But they had a daughter Lady Iris she was 5 when her father was killed and couldn’t understand why they couldn’t still own the house. Throughout her life that is all that matters to her the house. When her uncle Clive comes and throws her and the girls out Lady Iris becomes more determined to have the house back. Adamant that it is hers.
The story is mostly narrated by Lady Iris’s youngest daughter Sarah Forster most of her story is set in the 1950’s, she is a housewife, married to Daniel. They live in a home near Hampstead Heath, Daniel had used inheritance money to buy the house, but they were still short of funds.
The reader gradually learns about Sarah and Victoria’s growing up years, which are pretty horrendous, the mother sends them off to boarding school, where Sarah especially is abused, bullied, her sister turns her back on Sarah desperately trying to fit in with the other girls but that means leaving Sarah out. Putting a barrier between them for most of their lives. No one knows what Sarah went through.
The story spans from the 1920’s to 2020. Gradually Sarah begins to learn more about herself, she had begun playing the Cello and that was her lifeline she could lose herself in the music. Dreaming of being a successful artist, which she does have the talent for.
There is so much wrapped up in this novel, with layers being gradually peeled away the story unfolds. I really felt for Sarah and Vicky but more so for Sarah. The whole of her growing up years made her lack total confidence in everything she did. The hardest part was she felt she wasn’t a good parent, after all if you have had no female role model to show you how to raise a child how can you do it.
The characters are so damaged by their childhood that I am surprised they even survived. I would have liked to have seen more of Lady Iris to explain more about her, she is a complex character completely obsessed with Fane Hall, that matters to her more than anything else.
I enjoyed how Daniel and Sarah met and how they married, how their marriage works as he is the total opposite of Sarah, at times I wanted to slap him and tell him to help Sarah. Full of characters from different walks of life who live near Sarah and Daniel in The Row. With a twist you won’t see coming, that took me completely by surprise. At times sad but occasionally fun. We all need to know our own identity and have confidence in ourselves, but a lot of that is shaped through your early years of growing up, knowing that you are loved is more precious than any building made from bricks and mortar.
The story is mostly narrated by Lady Iris’s youngest daughter Sarah Forster most of her story is set in the 1950’s, she is a housewife, married to Daniel. They live in a home near Hampstead Heath, Daniel had used inheritance money to buy the house, but they were still short of funds.
The reader gradually learns about Sarah and Victoria’s growing up years, which are pretty horrendous, the mother sends them off to boarding school, where Sarah especially is abused, bullied, her sister turns her back on Sarah desperately trying to fit in with the other girls but that means leaving Sarah out. Putting a barrier between them for most of their lives. No one knows what Sarah went through.
The story spans from the 1920’s to 2020. Gradually Sarah begins to learn more about herself, she had begun playing the Cello and that was her lifeline she could lose herself in the music. Dreaming of being a successful artist, which she does have the talent for.
There is so much wrapped up in this novel, with layers being gradually peeled away the story unfolds. I really felt for Sarah and Vicky but more so for Sarah. The whole of her growing up years made her lack total confidence in everything she did. The hardest part was she felt she wasn’t a good parent, after all if you have had no female role model to show you how to raise a child how can you do it.
The characters are so damaged by their childhood that I am surprised they even survived. I would have liked to have seen more of Lady Iris to explain more about her, she is a complex character completely obsessed with Fane Hall, that matters to her more than anything else.
I enjoyed how Daniel and Sarah met and how they married, how their marriage works as he is the total opposite of Sarah, at times I wanted to slap him and tell him to help Sarah. Full of characters from different walks of life who live near Sarah and Daniel in The Row. With a twist you won’t see coming, that took me completely by surprise. At times sad but occasionally fun. We all need to know our own identity and have confidence in ourselves, but a lot of that is shaped through your early years of growing up, knowing that you are loved is more precious than any building made from bricks and mortar.
April 30, 2024
Gripping and disturbing family saga whose heroine, Sarah, struggles to make sense of the neglect and abuse her aristocratic mother subjected her and her sister Victoria to as children whilst trying to hang on to her career as a promising cellist and build a normal family life for herself, her husband Daniel and their two little girls. Occasionally the narrative switches to the perspective of her mother, Lady Iris Fane, seemingly obsessed with the fact that the family pile was inherited by her father's brother, rather than passed down directly to her.
The different ways in which Sarah and Victoria struggle to survive, and the wedge it drives between them, are heart breaking to read, and although Sarah has succeeded in marrying her childhood sweetheart who knows all about her history, her husband's ditzy self-preoccupation and apparent obliviousness to her trauma symptoms stirred up some real rage in me!
There is a big twist at the end, and hints dropped on and off throughout the narrative that the truth might be more complex than the reader is led to believe, and although I found the actions and reactions of some of the characters a bit hard to credit, I still found it an addictive and immersive read.
The different ways in which Sarah and Victoria struggle to survive, and the wedge it drives between them, are heart breaking to read, and although Sarah has succeeded in marrying her childhood sweetheart who knows all about her history, her husband's ditzy self-preoccupation and apparent obliviousness to her trauma symptoms stirred up some real rage in me!
There is a big twist at the end, and hints dropped on and off throughout the narrative that the truth might be more complex than the reader is led to believe, and although I found the actions and reactions of some of the characters a bit hard to credit, I still found it an addictive and immersive read.
August 12, 2023
The Stargazers - Harriet Evans
Sarah and Victoria two sisters with the most awful mother (Iris) the world could imagine a totally selfish brute and bully who drives her daughters away. You get to see life from Iris' point of view as to why she turned out the way she is and why she is mad and obsessive about Fane Hall. The main character is Sarah, a cellist who wants her own daughters to have a life totally different to her own. She marries Daniel who she met as a child, lives in a run down house in Hampstead, living an impoverished bohemian lifestyle with its own plot twist dating back to Sarah's boarding school another horrendous experience.
The story is set over several timeframes, mainly the 1950s, 70's and modern day.
Although the book is very well written and beautifully evocative of the different timescales I can't say I enjoyed this and could not really find one character I liked enough to invest my time in. I even found Sarah irritating.
I found I could not wait to finish this book and move on which is a shame as I have enjoyed Harriet's previous novels.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.
Sarah and Victoria two sisters with the most awful mother (Iris) the world could imagine a totally selfish brute and bully who drives her daughters away. You get to see life from Iris' point of view as to why she turned out the way she is and why she is mad and obsessive about Fane Hall. The main character is Sarah, a cellist who wants her own daughters to have a life totally different to her own. She marries Daniel who she met as a child, lives in a run down house in Hampstead, living an impoverished bohemian lifestyle with its own plot twist dating back to Sarah's boarding school another horrendous experience.
The story is set over several timeframes, mainly the 1950s, 70's and modern day.
Although the book is very well written and beautifully evocative of the different timescales I can't say I enjoyed this and could not really find one character I liked enough to invest my time in. I even found Sarah irritating.
I found I could not wait to finish this book and move on which is a shame as I have enjoyed Harriet's previous novels.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.
December 9, 2023
A family saga, with dark secrets and complex characters. It twists and turns, with evocative scenes set between the 1950’s and 70’s touching in the 1920’s, with fully rounded players in this story. Harriet gets up close and personal with human nature and how cruel parents can be, at times I found this an uncomfortable read, close to the bone of human nature, yet there is love and redemption threading its way throughout as well.
January 10, 2024
I was gifted this lovely hardback book by my mum for Christmas. Evans is a local author (Bath, UK) who I had not read before.
It's hard to put into words how much I loved this book. I read it in just a few days, constantly wanting to read more. I was desperate to unravel the ongoing mystery throughout the book, but also wanted to slow down because I felt so immersed in this world and didn't want it to be over so quickly. I haven't felt like that about a book for a long while.
I loved Sarah's character - her complex relationship with her mum and sister, her obsession with the cello and how she manages motherhood and marriage.
The story humanised the complexity for many British people after the war - navigating the changing political and economic landscape.
I loved the symbolism of stars, owls and music. I think this will be a future classic. This book has stayed with me and I think about the characters often.
It's hard to put into words how much I loved this book. I read it in just a few days, constantly wanting to read more. I was desperate to unravel the ongoing mystery throughout the book, but also wanted to slow down because I felt so immersed in this world and didn't want it to be over so quickly. I haven't felt like that about a book for a long while.
I loved Sarah's character - her complex relationship with her mum and sister, her obsession with the cello and how she manages motherhood and marriage.
The story humanised the complexity for many British people after the war - navigating the changing political and economic landscape.
I loved the symbolism of stars, owls and music. I think this will be a future classic. This book has stayed with me and I think about the characters often.
August 2, 2023
What an emotional journey that was!
I am no stranger to Harriet Evans and have read previous books so I was exceptionally happy to be given the opportunity to read this early.
A must of those that love past and present timelines, dual POVs.
History surrounding a great house and its family.
This was a fantastic read, Harriet Evans really does take you on a journey in her books.
Very good! Highly recommend
I am no stranger to Harriet Evans and have read previous books so I was exceptionally happy to be given the opportunity to read this early.
A must of those that love past and present timelines, dual POVs.
History surrounding a great house and its family.
This was a fantastic read, Harriet Evans really does take you on a journey in her books.
Very good! Highly recommend
June 8, 2024
4.5stars, gorgeous, rich story. I'd read some Harriet Evans before and hadn't really been impressed, but she's found her footing here. Didn't want this one to end
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