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A Certain Kind of Starlight
In the face of hardship, two women learn how to rise up again under the bright side of the stars.
Everyone knows that Addie Fullbright can’t keep a secret. Yet, twelve years ago, as her best friend lay dying, she entrusted Addie with the biggest secret of all. One so shattering that Addie felt she had to leave her hometown of Starlight, Alabama, to keep from revealing a devastating truth to someone she cares for deeply. Now she’s living a lonely life, keeping everyone at a distance, not only to protect the secret but also her heart from the pain of losing someone else. But when her beloved aunt, the woman who helped raise her, gets a shocking diagnosis and asks her to come back to Starlight to help run the family bakery, Addie knows it’s finally time to go home again.
Tessa Jane Wingrove-Fullbright feels like she’s failing. She’s always been able to see the lighter side of life but lately darkness has descended. Her world is suddenly in shambles after a painful breakup, her favorite aunt’s unexpected health troubles, and because crushing expectations from the Wingrove side of her family are forcing her to keep secrets and make painful choices. When she’s called back to Starlight to help her aunt, she’s barely holding herself together and fears she’ll never find her way back to who she used to be.
Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness.
Everyone knows that Addie Fullbright can’t keep a secret. Yet, twelve years ago, as her best friend lay dying, she entrusted Addie with the biggest secret of all. One so shattering that Addie felt she had to leave her hometown of Starlight, Alabama, to keep from revealing a devastating truth to someone she cares for deeply. Now she’s living a lonely life, keeping everyone at a distance, not only to protect the secret but also her heart from the pain of losing someone else. But when her beloved aunt, the woman who helped raise her, gets a shocking diagnosis and asks her to come back to Starlight to help run the family bakery, Addie knows it’s finally time to go home again.
Tessa Jane Wingrove-Fullbright feels like she’s failing. She’s always been able to see the lighter side of life but lately darkness has descended. Her world is suddenly in shambles after a painful breakup, her favorite aunt’s unexpected health troubles, and because crushing expectations from the Wingrove side of her family are forcing her to keep secrets and make painful choices. When she’s called back to Starlight to help her aunt, she’s barely holding herself together and fears she’ll never find her way back to who she used to be.
Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness.
500 pages, Library Binding
First published July 23, 2024
206 people are currently reading
15454 people want to read
About the author
Heather Webber
33 books4,175 followersUSA Today bestselling author Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
July 6, 2024
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This is my second book by this author and I tried to like her books but have realized she just isn't for me. I loved the premise but the execution fell flat and I found I had the same issues as I did with At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities , it is more chick-lit than magical realism. Too much Hallmark movie and not enough magic. This should have been right up my alley, a southern bakery location and a plot with a bit of magic. I found it to be more along the lines of a soap opera. I hate tropes with lack of communication and big secrets, it frustrates the hell out of me. Like just grow up, keep a secret if you promise to and get on with your life. You're a grown-ass woman stop saying you'll let it out by accident.
There are too many characters and we don't focus on just one or two long enough to get to know them. We meet everybody in the whole damn town and their brother. I just didn't click with any of the characters, even the two main ones. Everything was spread too thin and felt watered down. The entire thing bored me to tears. The pacing was just so damn slow and I know that's how they do things in the south but I dreaded picking this book up and it took me a long time to finish. The characters seemed two-dimensional, flat if you will. The ending felt very rushed and all too tidy for my liking.
I did appreciate that romance was not at the forefront of the plot and I loved how each chapter started with a baking hack and a bit of wisdom from Verbena. The recipes and discussions of making the cakes made me hungry and I swear I gained ten pounds just reading about them. If you like sickly sweet, heartwarming stories with a lot of characters, this book may be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This is my second book by this author and I tried to like her books but have realized she just isn't for me. I loved the premise but the execution fell flat and I found I had the same issues as I did with At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities , it is more chick-lit than magical realism. Too much Hallmark movie and not enough magic. This should have been right up my alley, a southern bakery location and a plot with a bit of magic. I found it to be more along the lines of a soap opera. I hate tropes with lack of communication and big secrets, it frustrates the hell out of me. Like just grow up, keep a secret if you promise to and get on with your life. You're a grown-ass woman stop saying you'll let it out by accident.
There are too many characters and we don't focus on just one or two long enough to get to know them. We meet everybody in the whole damn town and their brother. I just didn't click with any of the characters, even the two main ones. Everything was spread too thin and felt watered down. The entire thing bored me to tears. The pacing was just so damn slow and I know that's how they do things in the south but I dreaded picking this book up and it took me a long time to finish. The characters seemed two-dimensional, flat if you will. The ending felt very rushed and all too tidy for my liking.
I did appreciate that romance was not at the forefront of the plot and I loved how each chapter started with a baking hack and a bit of wisdom from Verbena. The recipes and discussions of making the cakes made me hungry and I swear I gained ten pounds just reading about them. If you like sickly sweet, heartwarming stories with a lot of characters, this book may be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
August 18, 2024
3.5⭐️
“For the women in our family, the ability to see a bright side and all that came with it was a near constant in our lives, first appearing almost two hundred years ago after a star fell from the sky onto family land. Legend was that somehow the fallen star with its special glow had given us the gift, and we felt honor bound to use it to bring light and hope and brightness to others.”
Set in the small town of Starlight, Alabama, A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber is a charming story that revolves around themes of family, sisterhood, friendship and starting over.
At the center of the story is sixty-four-year-old Verbena Fullbright, Aunt “Bean” to her nieces, half-sisters twenty-nine-year-old Addison “Addie” Fullbright and twenty-four-year-old Tessa Jane Cobb Wingrove Fullbright. Aunt Bean owns and runs the Starling Cake Company famous for its delectable treats that are believed to have special qualities that flood the taster with positive feelings. Starlight Field, which also belongs to the family, is of special significance to the family on account of a crater formed from a fallen star and the special lightened path where those in need found clarity of thought and direction. Addie, who moved away from Starlight years ago after the death of her best friend and is a famous voice artist and Tessa is nursing a broken heart after a broken engagement are called back to Starlight to take care of the bakery after Aunt Bean is diagnosed with a heart condition. The sisters have a complicated relationship and have never been close, but now things just might change. But the sisters have a lot to contend with – their personal problems, the stress of running the bakery, their concern over Aunt Bean’s health, long-buried family secrets, and the greedy intentions of Tessa’s maternal grandfather – before old wounds can be healed.
The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Addie and Tessa Jane in alternating chapters. I loved the small-town setting and adored Aunt Bean. I liked how each chapter started with Aunt Bean’s words of wisdom thoughtfully embedded in her baking tips! I loved how the author depicted the growing bond between the sisters and found both Addie and Tessa to be endearing characters. I have to mention the pets who made life for our characters very interesting, leading to several heartfelt and entertaining moments! I appreciated the underlying message of the novel – the importance of family and community and how crucial it is to try to look for the positive in one another and ourselves and allow positive energy into our lives. The author addresses sensitive topics such as domestic abuse, animal cruelty and abandonment with compassion.
There is a lot to like about this novel – the humor, the relationships, the well-thought-out characters and the element of magical realism , to name just a few. However, the narrative does feature a very large cast of characters and I found it difficult to follow how everyone was related/connected beyond a point. The author also weaves a tad too many subplots into the narrative, resulting in a slow-paced, unnecessarily complicated and convoluted story with overly dramatic moments (soap-opera vibes). The element of magical realism was interesting as a concept, but I wish it had been more deeply embedded into the narrative.
This is my second Heather Webber novel and though I didn’t love this one as much as At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities, I did find it to be a heartwarming story. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis making for an engaging immersion reading experience.
Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group/Forge Books for the gifted hardcover and the digital review copy via NetGalley. I’d also like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 23, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
“For the women in our family, the ability to see a bright side and all that came with it was a near constant in our lives, first appearing almost two hundred years ago after a star fell from the sky onto family land. Legend was that somehow the fallen star with its special glow had given us the gift, and we felt honor bound to use it to bring light and hope and brightness to others.”
Set in the small town of Starlight, Alabama, A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber is a charming story that revolves around themes of family, sisterhood, friendship and starting over.
At the center of the story is sixty-four-year-old Verbena Fullbright, Aunt “Bean” to her nieces, half-sisters twenty-nine-year-old Addison “Addie” Fullbright and twenty-four-year-old Tessa Jane Cobb Wingrove Fullbright. Aunt Bean owns and runs the Starling Cake Company famous for its delectable treats that are believed to have special qualities that flood the taster with positive feelings. Starlight Field, which also belongs to the family, is of special significance to the family on account of a crater formed from a fallen star and the special lightened path where those in need found clarity of thought and direction. Addie, who moved away from Starlight years ago after the death of her best friend and is a famous voice artist and Tessa is nursing a broken heart after a broken engagement are called back to Starlight to take care of the bakery after Aunt Bean is diagnosed with a heart condition. The sisters have a complicated relationship and have never been close, but now things just might change. But the sisters have a lot to contend with – their personal problems, the stress of running the bakery, their concern over Aunt Bean’s health, long-buried family secrets, and the greedy intentions of Tessa’s maternal grandfather – before old wounds can be healed.
The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Addie and Tessa Jane in alternating chapters. I loved the small-town setting and adored Aunt Bean. I liked how each chapter started with Aunt Bean’s words of wisdom thoughtfully embedded in her baking tips! I loved how the author depicted the growing bond between the sisters and found both Addie and Tessa to be endearing characters. I have to mention the pets who made life for our characters very interesting, leading to several heartfelt and entertaining moments! I appreciated the underlying message of the novel – the importance of family and community and how crucial it is to try to look for the positive in one another and ourselves and allow positive energy into our lives. The author addresses sensitive topics such as domestic abuse, animal cruelty and abandonment with compassion.
There is a lot to like about this novel – the humor, the relationships, the well-thought-out characters and the element of magical realism , to name just a few. However, the narrative does feature a very large cast of characters and I found it difficult to follow how everyone was related/connected beyond a point. The author also weaves a tad too many subplots into the narrative, resulting in a slow-paced, unnecessarily complicated and convoluted story with overly dramatic moments (soap-opera vibes). The element of magical realism was interesting as a concept, but I wish it had been more deeply embedded into the narrative.
This is my second Heather Webber novel and though I didn’t love this one as much as At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities, I did find it to be a heartwarming story. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
I paired my reading with the audiobook expertly narrated by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis making for an engaging immersion reading experience.
Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group/Forge Books for the gifted hardcover and the digital review copy via NetGalley. I’d also like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on July 23, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
March 17, 2025
EXCERPT: ADDIE
" . . . I've done come up with a plan to head him off at the pass. A fair one, I believe."
I suspected she had many plans, all stored up like the alluring jars of colorful sprinkles, dusting sugars, nonpareils, and edible confetti that sat on the long shelves in the cake decorating corner. Enchanting, yes, but also incredibly messy and frustrating if you weren't careful.
Aunt Bean said, "But my plan is complex, which is why I need your help."
Delilah snorted. "Her plan has more layers than an apple stack cake."
Aunt Bean threw her dear friend a droll look, then in a supremely measured tone that set off high-pitched alarm bells in my head, said, "It must be completed in stages. Addie, you'll need to move back to Starlight for a spell."
My hand froze and cocoa powder drifted like dark snow onto the cement floor. "Move back?"
Emotionally, it had been hard enough visiting Aunt Bean and the Sugarbirds. Every few months, I'd arrive like a whirlwind to catch up with everyone, indulge in the local gossip, visit the shops, and soak up all the love and affection I could, tucking it away for the lonely days ahead. But I never stayed longer than a day or two. And each time I left, it was with tears in my eyes and wishes I could stay.
Even thinking about moving back stirred up all kinds of emotions I'd tamped down for years, making me lightheaded and queasy.
I'd left for a reason. And that reason hadn't changed in all the time I'd been gone.
ABOUT 'A CERTAIN KIND OF STARLIGHT': In the face of hardship, two women learn how to rise up again under the bright side of the stars.
Everyone knows that Addie Fullbright can’t keep a secret. Yet, twelve years ago, as her best friend lay dying, she entrusted Addie with the biggest secret of all. One so shattering that Addie felt she had to leave her hometown of Starlight, Alabama, to keep from revealing a devastating truth to someone she cares for deeply. Now she’s living a lonely life, keeping everyone at a distance, not only to protect the secret but also her heart from the pain of losing someone else. But when her beloved aunt, the woman who helped raise her, gets a shocking diagnosis and asks her to come back to Starlight to help run the family bakery, Addie knows it’s finally time to go home again.
Tessa Jane Wingrove-Fullbright feels like she’s failing. She’s always been able to see the lighter side of life but lately darkness has descended. Her world is suddenly in shambles after a painful breakup, her favorite aunt’s unexpected health troubles, and because crushing expectations from the Wingrove side of her family are forcing her to keep secrets and make painful choices. When she’s called back to Starlight to help her aunt, she’s barely holding herself together and fears she’ll never find her way back to who she used to be.
Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness.
MY THOUGHTS: If you like stories about family, reconciliation, healing and new beginnings, then A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber is the book for you.
The story is told by half-sisters Addie and Tessa-Jane who have been raised by their respective mothers to be wary of one another. There's been more than a little manipulation gone on here! And then when you add Tessa-Jane's granddaddy into the mix - well! Thankfully Aunt Bean (Verbena Fullbright) has more sense than all of them combined and gets the two girls together at every opportunity. Her failing health is the perfect opportunity to gather them close and to make plans for their future/s.
Aunt Bean owns and operates, along with the help of women friends she calls her Sugarbirds, The Starling Cake Company (Starlings play an important role in this book) and is, despite her health issues, currently expanding the business into new premises. And this is where I will issue a warning - don't read this while you are hungry. I am sitting here craving sweet - sugar, cinnamon, cake, pastries - anything will do! I plan on baking just as soon as I finish this review! I could smell vanilla as I was reading. Webber's books are always a totally immersive experience.
Anyway, back to Aunt Bean. She's a list-maker, an organizer, a get-it-done and do-it-right type of woman, someone I can easily relate to. She sees trouble on the horizon and plans to head it off at the pass. Along the way, some people will show their true colors, and some family secrets will be revealed. It is worth mentioning, at this point, that Addie has a mortal fear of not being able to keep the secrets she has been entrusted with.
A Certain Kind of Starlight is a wonderful, heart-warming read. It combines a little southern magic with down home good sense. And while it is not my favorite Webber Book, that honor goes to South of the Buttonwood Tree, it still left me feeling kinder towards my fellow human beings, with a smile on my face, and a hunger for cake.
I love the way each chapter starts with a baking tip and a little life lesson from Aunt Bean, such as - From the Kitchen of Verbena Fullbright
If you've done forgot to buy buttermilk, use sour milk instead. Just mix one tablespoon of vinegar with one cup of milk, let it sit for five minutes, and you've got yourself a buttermilk substitution. Never be afraid to make changes. Sometimes unfamiliar paths can lead you to the same destination.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#ACertainKindofStarlight #NetGalley
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Tor-Forge via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
" . . . I've done come up with a plan to head him off at the pass. A fair one, I believe."
I suspected she had many plans, all stored up like the alluring jars of colorful sprinkles, dusting sugars, nonpareils, and edible confetti that sat on the long shelves in the cake decorating corner. Enchanting, yes, but also incredibly messy and frustrating if you weren't careful.
Aunt Bean said, "But my plan is complex, which is why I need your help."
Delilah snorted. "Her plan has more layers than an apple stack cake."
Aunt Bean threw her dear friend a droll look, then in a supremely measured tone that set off high-pitched alarm bells in my head, said, "It must be completed in stages. Addie, you'll need to move back to Starlight for a spell."
My hand froze and cocoa powder drifted like dark snow onto the cement floor. "Move back?"
Emotionally, it had been hard enough visiting Aunt Bean and the Sugarbirds. Every few months, I'd arrive like a whirlwind to catch up with everyone, indulge in the local gossip, visit the shops, and soak up all the love and affection I could, tucking it away for the lonely days ahead. But I never stayed longer than a day or two. And each time I left, it was with tears in my eyes and wishes I could stay.
Even thinking about moving back stirred up all kinds of emotions I'd tamped down for years, making me lightheaded and queasy.
I'd left for a reason. And that reason hadn't changed in all the time I'd been gone.
ABOUT 'A CERTAIN KIND OF STARLIGHT': In the face of hardship, two women learn how to rise up again under the bright side of the stars.
Everyone knows that Addie Fullbright can’t keep a secret. Yet, twelve years ago, as her best friend lay dying, she entrusted Addie with the biggest secret of all. One so shattering that Addie felt she had to leave her hometown of Starlight, Alabama, to keep from revealing a devastating truth to someone she cares for deeply. Now she’s living a lonely life, keeping everyone at a distance, not only to protect the secret but also her heart from the pain of losing someone else. But when her beloved aunt, the woman who helped raise her, gets a shocking diagnosis and asks her to come back to Starlight to help run the family bakery, Addie knows it’s finally time to go home again.
Tessa Jane Wingrove-Fullbright feels like she’s failing. She’s always been able to see the lighter side of life but lately darkness has descended. Her world is suddenly in shambles after a painful breakup, her favorite aunt’s unexpected health troubles, and because crushing expectations from the Wingrove side of her family are forcing her to keep secrets and make painful choices. When she’s called back to Starlight to help her aunt, she’s barely holding herself together and fears she’ll never find her way back to who she used to be.
Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness.
MY THOUGHTS: If you like stories about family, reconciliation, healing and new beginnings, then A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber is the book for you.
The story is told by half-sisters Addie and Tessa-Jane who have been raised by their respective mothers to be wary of one another. There's been more than a little manipulation gone on here! And then when you add Tessa-Jane's granddaddy into the mix - well! Thankfully Aunt Bean (Verbena Fullbright) has more sense than all of them combined and gets the two girls together at every opportunity. Her failing health is the perfect opportunity to gather them close and to make plans for their future/s.
Aunt Bean owns and operates, along with the help of women friends she calls her Sugarbirds, The Starling Cake Company (Starlings play an important role in this book) and is, despite her health issues, currently expanding the business into new premises. And this is where I will issue a warning - don't read this while you are hungry. I am sitting here craving sweet - sugar, cinnamon, cake, pastries - anything will do! I plan on baking just as soon as I finish this review! I could smell vanilla as I was reading. Webber's books are always a totally immersive experience.
Anyway, back to Aunt Bean. She's a list-maker, an organizer, a get-it-done and do-it-right type of woman, someone I can easily relate to. She sees trouble on the horizon and plans to head it off at the pass. Along the way, some people will show their true colors, and some family secrets will be revealed. It is worth mentioning, at this point, that Addie has a mortal fear of not being able to keep the secrets she has been entrusted with.
A Certain Kind of Starlight is a wonderful, heart-warming read. It combines a little southern magic with down home good sense. And while it is not my favorite Webber Book, that honor goes to South of the Buttonwood Tree, it still left me feeling kinder towards my fellow human beings, with a smile on my face, and a hunger for cake.
I love the way each chapter starts with a baking tip and a little life lesson from Aunt Bean, such as - From the Kitchen of Verbena Fullbright
If you've done forgot to buy buttermilk, use sour milk instead. Just mix one tablespoon of vinegar with one cup of milk, let it sit for five minutes, and you've got yourself a buttermilk substitution. Never be afraid to make changes. Sometimes unfamiliar paths can lead you to the same destination.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#ACertainKindofStarlight #NetGalley
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Heather Webber loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book. *Heather also writes under the pen name Heather Blake.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Tor-Forge via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 17, 2024
As someone who adores magical realism in novels, there just aren’t enough of these on the market, and when they are this special, it makes me want to shout from the rooftops! I already knew I loved Heather Webber’s books, having read several of her past books. A Certain Kind of Starlight is just as magical.
The story is narrated by half sisters Addie and Tessa Jane and features their beloved Aunt Beans who owns a bakery in a small southern town. Ok, the sweetness of the bakery setting got me good, with all its smells and sights. I LOVED it. Also, it’s easy to love Addie, Tessa Jane, Aunt Bean, and almost all the side characters, except the ones who are super unlikable villains, like Tessa Jane’s grandfather.
As one might predict from the title, the magic involves starlight, but I won’t give it away. It’s way too fun to explore in the story, and I loved how it was all executed. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen should definitely check this one out, as well as all of Heather Webber’s novels. The characters are endearing, and the magic blends seamlessly into the story. The town is charming. I gobbled this up. It was the perfect escape read for me and exactly what I needed to add brightness to my summer reading. All the stars and a favorite. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram; www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
The story is narrated by half sisters Addie and Tessa Jane and features their beloved Aunt Beans who owns a bakery in a small southern town. Ok, the sweetness of the bakery setting got me good, with all its smells and sights. I LOVED it. Also, it’s easy to love Addie, Tessa Jane, Aunt Bean, and almost all the side characters, except the ones who are super unlikable villains, like Tessa Jane’s grandfather.
As one might predict from the title, the magic involves starlight, but I won’t give it away. It’s way too fun to explore in the story, and I loved how it was all executed. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen should definitely check this one out, as well as all of Heather Webber’s novels. The characters are endearing, and the magic blends seamlessly into the story. The town is charming. I gobbled this up. It was the perfect escape read for me and exactly what I needed to add brightness to my summer reading. All the stars and a favorite. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram; www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 2, 2024
“A Certain Kind of Starlight” by Heather Webber reads exactly like a Hallmark movie in the very best way. This is not simply because of the setting of a small town, with a loving cast of characters. Webber’s whimsical writing style is the aspect that most creates this.
However, everything in this story is not picture perfect, like a Hallmark movie. Small towns have secrets, and sisters Addie and Tessa Jane have their own. I felt myself very drawn into Webber’s novel. I was eager to keep reading, and to spend more time with the main characters.
My biggest complaint is that I felt there were too many characters. Too many plot points. I do think the amount of characters and plot points is accurate for small town life. However, it made it somewhat difficult to follow. I easily forgot which characters were who. It was also very easy to forget which point of view was taking place. I believe this is particularly true as I am listening to the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I also was lucky enough to receive a physical ARC of this book from a GoodReads Giveaway thanks to TOR.
July 21, 2024
Heather Webber seamlessly converges the ordinary with the extraordinary!
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, In the Middle of Hickory Lane and At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities have been five-star reads for me because Webber has given me an opportunity to see the world from a fresh perspective and I appreciate her real-world settings which she elevates with an undercurrent of magic.
I loved my visit to Starlight, Alabama and was easily caught up in the struggles of the Fullbright women as they pondered the fate of the bakery.
I felt encouraged and inspired by the Fullbright women who use their gift of seeing the bright sides by bringing light and happiness to others. It’s easy for the weight of life to burden us and cause us to focus on the darkness of our shadow and feel like a failure at times. Addie showed me the value of finding a way back to the light, the necessity of ‘going home’, the importance I need to place on returning to who I used to be, and in looking for the magic in trusting myself.
I loved the mystery surrounding starlight field and the tension created over the ownership of it as much as I loved reading about the Sugarbirds and the Starling Cake Company. I smiled at the references to ‘heart dropsy’ and Sweetie, the pea-green 1951 Ford pickup and my heart ached for Aunt Bean and her dilemma. The chapter openings featuring “From the kitchen of Verbena Fullbright” were a welcome addition.
Heather Webber is an auto-read author for me and I can’t wait for her next book!
I was gifted this copy by Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, In the Middle of Hickory Lane and At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities have been five-star reads for me because Webber has given me an opportunity to see the world from a fresh perspective and I appreciate her real-world settings which she elevates with an undercurrent of magic.
I loved my visit to Starlight, Alabama and was easily caught up in the struggles of the Fullbright women as they pondered the fate of the bakery.
I felt encouraged and inspired by the Fullbright women who use their gift of seeing the bright sides by bringing light and happiness to others. It’s easy for the weight of life to burden us and cause us to focus on the darkness of our shadow and feel like a failure at times. Addie showed me the value of finding a way back to the light, the necessity of ‘going home’, the importance I need to place on returning to who I used to be, and in looking for the magic in trusting myself.
I loved the mystery surrounding starlight field and the tension created over the ownership of it as much as I loved reading about the Sugarbirds and the Starling Cake Company. I smiled at the references to ‘heart dropsy’ and Sweetie, the pea-green 1951 Ford pickup and my heart ached for Aunt Bean and her dilemma. The chapter openings featuring “From the kitchen of Verbena Fullbright” were a welcome addition.
Heather Webber is an auto-read author for me and I can’t wait for her next book!
I was gifted this copy by Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
November 10, 2024
3.5 stars- This one was a little slow for me. I usually really love this author's books. They are always feel good stories where good triumphs over evil and this was no exception. The problem was that this book took too long to get into. Set in Alabama, two half-sisters who are estranged, are brought back together after their aunt's health scare. They both need to help her out with her bakery. While in town, they both have to deal with their family secrets and obligations as well as what made them leave in the first place. I loved the starlights and the magic elements. There were some great moments and the characters were well written. I just wished there had been a little more action or something that grabbed me a little more.
December 27, 2023
Special thanks to Edelweiss for the digital review copy.
Just when I think Heather Webber couldn't possibly pull off another magical heartwarming book, she absolutely does it again. Webber makes you fall in love with her characters which makes you feel everything they do as the book develops. Her mystical magic is not so far out there that its not believable and makes me want to find these places she creates and become a part of them. A Certain Kind of Starlight is a truly special book and a must read.
Just when I think Heather Webber couldn't possibly pull off another magical heartwarming book, she absolutely does it again. Webber makes you fall in love with her characters which makes you feel everything they do as the book develops. Her mystical magic is not so far out there that its not believable and makes me want to find these places she creates and become a part of them. A Certain Kind of Starlight is a truly special book and a must read.
August 22, 2024
Heather Webber has become one of the most reliable parts of my year. She's going to release a new book every summer. That book is going to have a bit of magic, a small Southern town, most likely a baked good, two female main characters voiced on the audiobook by the same two narrators, a little bit of romance...generally a second chance one, and at least one lovable, elderly parental figure who inspires. It'll be sweet and clean and heartwarming. If this sounds like I'm complaining or belittling, I'm not. I love that I know what to expect, what I'm getting myself into. I love that I won't be blindsided by bad language or sexy stuff. It's just good old fashioned, southern charm. I genuinely love it. It might be formulaic but it works for me. This one did seem like it had lots of characters and dueling families that I was struggling to keep straight, but it all came together and I really enjoyed it. After such a heavy book, I needed this bit of sweetness in my life. She always makes me wish these towns were real and that I was from one. Another solid Webber book.
May 12, 2024
I love the way Heather Webber weaves magical realism into a beautiful, relatable story. I might be guilty of stalking her on social media, then rushing to request her newest book as soon as it’s available on NetGalley.
While I enjoyed this one, something about it didn’t click for me as well as her others.
The beginning is a flood of characters, all with tangled relationships. Keeping them straight was a bit of a chore. Then the story took on a bit of a soap opera vibe. I wasn’t nearly as invested in the characters as I normally am with her books. I can’t really explain why.
The final third is when things finally started clicking for me, and I started to feel the magic.
While not my favorite, I still recommend giving this one a try.
*I received an eARC from Forge Books, via NetGalley.*
While I enjoyed this one, something about it didn’t click for me as well as her others.
The beginning is a flood of characters, all with tangled relationships. Keeping them straight was a bit of a chore. Then the story took on a bit of a soap opera vibe. I wasn’t nearly as invested in the characters as I normally am with her books. I can’t really explain why.
The final third is when things finally started clicking for me, and I started to feel the magic.
While not my favorite, I still recommend giving this one a try.
*I received an eARC from Forge Books, via NetGalley.*
January 16, 2025
I decided to end 2024 and start 2025 with a genteel, feel-good story.
This is a charming, if overly sweet, feel-good novel about family, friendship, togetherness, going home, and starting over - set in a small southern town with a magical meteor crater lake in one of the fields. And secrets. Quite a lot of secrets. There isn't much to the plot, but the characters are delightful. A bit short on magic for a magical realism novel, but I loved the ravens and Aunt Bean with her bakery. This novel was a bit tame, compared to Webber's previous novels.
This is a charming, if overly sweet, feel-good novel about family, friendship, togetherness, going home, and starting over - set in a small southern town with a magical meteor crater lake in one of the fields. And secrets. Quite a lot of secrets. There isn't much to the plot, but the characters are delightful. A bit short on magic for a magical realism novel, but I loved the ravens and Aunt Bean with her bakery. This novel was a bit tame, compared to Webber's previous novels.
July 3, 2024
You can never go wrong with Heather Webber + Magical Realism ✨
Thank you, Forge Books & Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of A Certain Kind of Starlight {partner}
Genre: Magical Realism
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 7.23.2024
Pages: 320
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
I look forward to Heather Webber’s books every summer and have read everything she’s written since Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. Her stories are always heartwarming and full of lessons on caring for those around you, even if they aren’t your blood relatives. And, for me, something about the found family plot gets me every time.
Typically, Webber’s books are full of magical realism, and while A Certain Kind of Starlight is magical, it isn’t overpowering. So, for those on the fence about this particular genre, this may be the one to check out!
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis narrate A Certain Kind of Starlight. I love that this duo has narrated all but one of Heather Webber’s books, and I love that they have been on this journey with her. Ricardo and Willis fully embrace the characters they are narrating and have a way of capturing your attention and calming your mind while listening.
Read if you enjoy:
🤫 Small town secrets
🥰 Found family
🔀bTangled relationships
🤍 Southern fiction
I recommend reading A Certain Kind of Starlight if you’re looking for a reminder that there’s still a little magic left in the world.
______
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Thank you, Forge Books & Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of A Certain Kind of Starlight {partner}
Genre: Magical Realism
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 7.23.2024
Pages: 320
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
I look forward to Heather Webber’s books every summer and have read everything she’s written since Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. Her stories are always heartwarming and full of lessons on caring for those around you, even if they aren’t your blood relatives. And, for me, something about the found family plot gets me every time.
Typically, Webber’s books are full of magical realism, and while A Certain Kind of Starlight is magical, it isn’t overpowering. So, for those on the fence about this particular genre, this may be the one to check out!
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis narrate A Certain Kind of Starlight. I love that this duo has narrated all but one of Heather Webber’s books, and I love that they have been on this journey with her. Ricardo and Willis fully embrace the characters they are narrating and have a way of capturing your attention and calming your mind while listening.
Read if you enjoy:
🤫 Small town secrets
🥰 Found family
🔀bTangled relationships
🤍 Southern fiction
I recommend reading A Certain Kind of Starlight if you’re looking for a reminder that there’s still a little magic left in the world.
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
July 24, 2024
Ok I honestly ate. this up. It has come to my attention recently that I LOVE magical realism, and magical realism set in a small town with cozy little bakeries and shops and the cutest characters is my new favorite genre. This book was so endearing, heartwarming, and I got really connected to the characters and their stories.
Addie and Tessa Jane are forced to come home to their small town, when they learn that their Aunt Bean is having heart troubles. The two are sisters who have been fairly estranged since their childhood, and the story starts off with the two of them awkward, not knowing who the other is, and putting on a temporary truce to care for Aunt Bean and her bakery. The bakery, and their small town, is built around a field of starlight, which people are lured to and seek out for hope, happiness, and brightness when their lives are getting dark. That starlight is the overriding theme of the book: providing hope and positivity for those who are struggling, alone, and desperate for a better future.
This book deals with domestic abuse (although nothing graphic), and I thought it was really well done how the theme of domestic abuse and isolation from others was a constant, touching many of the character's lives at different points. I loved seeing Addie and Tessa Jane put down some of their trauma, slowly heal, and surround themselves with their true family. Family is a big theme in this book and it was so heartwarming to see how much this small little town looked out for each other and protected each other. I honestly could have read more, because I was enjoying this story so much, and hoping for a positive ending for each character (that I liked lol).
Thank you so much to Forge and Tor Books for sending me this free early copy in exchange for my honest review!!
Addie and Tessa Jane are forced to come home to their small town, when they learn that their Aunt Bean is having heart troubles. The two are sisters who have been fairly estranged since their childhood, and the story starts off with the two of them awkward, not knowing who the other is, and putting on a temporary truce to care for Aunt Bean and her bakery. The bakery, and their small town, is built around a field of starlight, which people are lured to and seek out for hope, happiness, and brightness when their lives are getting dark. That starlight is the overriding theme of the book: providing hope and positivity for those who are struggling, alone, and desperate for a better future.
This book deals with domestic abuse (although nothing graphic), and I thought it was really well done how the theme of domestic abuse and isolation from others was a constant, touching many of the character's lives at different points. I loved seeing Addie and Tessa Jane put down some of their trauma, slowly heal, and surround themselves with their true family. Family is a big theme in this book and it was so heartwarming to see how much this small little town looked out for each other and protected each other. I honestly could have read more, because I was enjoying this story so much, and hoping for a positive ending for each character (that I liked lol).
Thank you so much to Forge and Tor Books for sending me this free early copy in exchange for my honest review!!
July 29, 2024
Thank you to Forge & TOR Publishing Group for this Advanced Readers Copy in return for my honest review.
I found this book absolutely delightful! Magical realism is quickly becoming a favorite genre of mine. I loved Midnight At the Blackbird Cafe, and Starlight gave me just as much light in my heart. Magic + Family + Cakes + Dogs = Quite the feel-good story.
The character development and dynamics between them worked for me, and I felt like it all tied up nicely in the end. I especially enjoyed the chapter intros.
I found this book absolutely delightful! Magical realism is quickly becoming a favorite genre of mine. I loved Midnight At the Blackbird Cafe, and Starlight gave me just as much light in my heart. Magic + Family + Cakes + Dogs = Quite the feel-good story.
The character development and dynamics between them worked for me, and I felt like it all tied up nicely in the end. I especially enjoyed the chapter intros.
August 28, 2024
Somehow I didn't feel quite the same magic as I have from this author's previous books and I think that's because I didn't quite feel the same connection to these MCs. The book started off with so many characters and complicated relationships thrown at us, even before we even knew the two MCs. Though some of those are explored/explained more as the story went one, I already felt a bit lost. There were also a lot of plots and directions this book took which also I felt diluted a bit from the character-driven magic of getting comfortable in this setting and enjoying the MCs. Also most of the big secrets are revealed within the first 50% which did lose a bit of the hook.
I did love the baking tips at the start of each chapter, especially since Verbena seemed like a sweet and sassy person. I also love reading anything bakery related, especially when there is magic mixed in. And the theme of following your dreams and letting go of the past is always enjoyable.
Overall, I do recommend this book as an easy summer read if you are looking for a book filled with drama over one focused on magic.
Audiobook: The narration for this book is pretty good, but I did sometimes have trouble keeping the MCs straight and I'm not sure if it was the narration or the story, or a combination of both.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy of this novel; my thoughts and review and my own.
I did love the baking tips at the start of each chapter, especially since Verbena seemed like a sweet and sassy person. I also love reading anything bakery related, especially when there is magic mixed in. And the theme of following your dreams and letting go of the past is always enjoyable.
Overall, I do recommend this book as an easy summer read if you are looking for a book filled with drama over one focused on magic.
Audiobook: The narration for this book is pretty good, but I did sometimes have trouble keeping the MCs straight and I'm not sure if it was the narration or the story, or a combination of both.
Thanks to the publisher for a free copy of this novel; my thoughts and review and my own.
February 6, 2025
I adore Heather Webber but her last couple books hit different. Her melodic writing style is comforting, and her ability to develop realistic characters is unmatched. She has inventive intuition. The plot of A Certain Kind of Starlight missed the mark though; it just felt "off" and was missing Webber's trademark passion. It was still a good book and better than most, but Webber has set an impossibily high bar with the Coffee Shop of Curiosities.
November 27, 2024
listened. LOVED it!
July 27, 2024
2.5 stars
A Certain Kind of Starlight was not what I expected. I don’t think this qualifies as magical realism or fantasy in the strictest sense. There was a small element to it. However, the description of the book makes you think that Addie’s secret is mystical in nature. Early on I found the novel entertaining and I appreciated that Webber attempted to address various types of domestic violence. However, this novel was problematic for me on numerous levels. First, while we seem to be introduced to at minimum a representative sample (if not the entirety) of the inhabitants in this small Alabama town, they appear to be exclusively white. Based on physical descriptions provided by the author, there is not a single person of color in the entire town. I grew up in the US South and live here again now. There aren’t any all white towns. It wouldn't be impossible for people to segregate themselves but that leads to additional issues. Specifically, Webber is drawing on aspects of Southern culture without considering or understanding the nuance of what has created that culture. Large portions of Southern culture in the US has been shaped by West African and African American culture as well as the unique culture that arose during enslavement. It's part of our blended culture in the South, true but some aspects, specifically the myth of flight and bird mythology are very deeply rooted in the cultural history of African-Americans who suffered through enslavement. I’m just not sure where to go with that because I don't feel like it was intentional but I don't know how it got all the to publication with literally no one raising this issue.
Even if there was someone that I missed who is not white, the point remains valid, as do other problems of representation in the novel.
Overall, it comes across as rather tone deaf to the racial and cultural politics of the US South. It reads like Webber is someone who has lived or spent time in the area long enough to pick up the quirky aspects of the colloquialisms but doesn’t understand the depths of the culture , the history or its many complications. Another less generous possibility is that she does understand the amount of trauma that has occurred for a multitude of reasons including poverty and structural inequality --it certainly has been a topic of some the great authors of Southern literature--and has chosen to mine that for her novel without having a real understanding of its implications. Certainly the way that she fails to acknowledge intergenerational trauma or do more than lip service to how incredibly problematic it is to be judged as violent and criminal based on one's last name and economic status is indicative of someone who has no true understanding of the world she's writing about.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
A Certain Kind of Starlight was not what I expected. I don’t think this qualifies as magical realism or fantasy in the strictest sense. There was a small element to it. However, the description of the book makes you think that Addie’s secret is mystical in nature. Early on I found the novel entertaining and I appreciated that Webber attempted to address various types of domestic violence. However, this novel was problematic for me on numerous levels. First, while we seem to be introduced to at minimum a representative sample (if not the entirety) of the inhabitants in this small Alabama town, they appear to be exclusively white. Based on physical descriptions provided by the author, there is not a single person of color in the entire town. I grew up in the US South and live here again now. There aren’t any all white towns. It wouldn't be impossible for people to segregate themselves but that leads to additional issues. Specifically, Webber is drawing on aspects of Southern culture without considering or understanding the nuance of what has created that culture. Large portions of Southern culture in the US has been shaped by West African and African American culture as well as the unique culture that arose during enslavement. It's part of our blended culture in the South, true but some aspects, specifically the myth of flight and bird mythology are very deeply rooted in the cultural history of African-Americans who suffered through enslavement. I’m just not sure where to go with that because I don't feel like it was intentional but I don't know how it got all the to publication with literally no one raising this issue.
Even if there was someone that I missed who is not white, the point remains valid, as do other problems of representation in the novel.
Overall, it comes across as rather tone deaf to the racial and cultural politics of the US South. It reads like Webber is someone who has lived or spent time in the area long enough to pick up the quirky aspects of the colloquialisms but doesn’t understand the depths of the culture , the history or its many complications. Another less generous possibility is that she does understand the amount of trauma that has occurred for a multitude of reasons including poverty and structural inequality --it certainly has been a topic of some the great authors of Southern literature--and has chosen to mine that for her novel without having a real understanding of its implications. Certainly the way that she fails to acknowledge intergenerational trauma or do more than lip service to how incredibly problematic it is to be judged as violent and criminal based on one's last name and economic status is indicative of someone who has no true understanding of the world she's writing about.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 26, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up: I don't read a lot of books with Magical Realism, but Heather Webber's books have just enough to make the story wonderful. In A Certain Kind of Starlight, Addie Fullbright left Starlight, Alabama 12 years ago when her best friend told her a secret just before she died. Addie knew she would never be able to keep it if she stayed in Starlight, so she left. Now with her aunt that raised her being ill, she returns home to help run the family bakery. Addie's sister, Tessa Jane Wingrove-Fullbright also comes home to Starlight dealing with issues of her own, including a huge secret she has been keeping. Will they be able to find the happiness they had when growing up in Starlight?
I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot to love, such as great characters, a small community full of quirky and loving people, great food, strong women, bonds of sisterhood and family, secrets that can cause issues, but also heal, a little bit of romance (not a major part of the story), reconciliation, all pulled together with a little bit of magic. I have to say that I loved Aunt Bean. She knew what she was doing and her goal was to bring the sisters together to remember the love they shared and to forgive one another and return to their home. The synopsis says: Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness. and this is a perfect description. If you like stories about strong women, sisters, reconciliation, finding your place, new beginnings and finding your "home" then I definitely recommend A Certain Kind of Starlight.
I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot to love, such as great characters, a small community full of quirky and loving people, great food, strong women, bonds of sisterhood and family, secrets that can cause issues, but also heal, a little bit of romance (not a major part of the story), reconciliation, all pulled together with a little bit of magic. I have to say that I loved Aunt Bean. She knew what she was doing and her goal was to bring the sisters together to remember the love they shared and to forgive one another and return to their home. The synopsis says: Under the bright side of the stars, Addie and Tessa Jane come to see that magic can be found in trusting yourself, that falling apart is simply a chance to rise up again, stronger than ever, and that the heart usually knows the best path through the darkness. and this is a perfect description. If you like stories about strong women, sisters, reconciliation, finding your place, new beginnings and finding your "home" then I definitely recommend A Certain Kind of Starlight.
May 10, 2024
X♾️
Aunt Bean has asked her nieces to come home to Starlight, Alabama. She needs help. She is feeling unwell and is going to the doctors to find out what is wrong. She owns the Starling Cake Company and the land that houses a meteor Crater. At night the crater gives off a special starlight Aurora.
Addie lives in Birmingham and is a famous voice actor. She's been hiding from her family and friends. She has a secret and she's afraid of revealing it.
Tessa Jane is Addie's half sister. She's also a Fulbright. Her granddaddy has been trying to get his hands on the Starlight land. Her fiancee recently left her at the altar. On her 25th birthday she has to decide if she wants to keep the land or sell it.
There are a lot of secrets in the town and the family. I loved Aunt Bean and the sugar birds. I loved how each chapter had a little tip on how to bake. I laughed and cried in this book. The author did another fantastic job.
Aunt Bean has asked her nieces to come home to Starlight, Alabama. She needs help. She is feeling unwell and is going to the doctors to find out what is wrong. She owns the Starling Cake Company and the land that houses a meteor Crater. At night the crater gives off a special starlight Aurora.
Addie lives in Birmingham and is a famous voice actor. She's been hiding from her family and friends. She has a secret and she's afraid of revealing it.
Tessa Jane is Addie's half sister. She's also a Fulbright. Her granddaddy has been trying to get his hands on the Starlight land. Her fiancee recently left her at the altar. On her 25th birthday she has to decide if she wants to keep the land or sell it.
There are a lot of secrets in the town and the family. I loved Aunt Bean and the sugar birds. I loved how each chapter had a little tip on how to bake. I laughed and cried in this book. The author did another fantastic job.
April 19, 2025
Thank you to @forgereads for the gifted advanced reader copy!
Heather Webber does small town magical realism SO well. I adored Midnight at the Blackbird Café so I was thrilled to get to read her newest!
How to read this book:
Step 1: buy cake. Like a lot of cake. Cookies might be advisable too.
Step 2: accept the fact that you are going to eat your weight in cake while reading this book.
This was such a fun read with Kristen! 🙌 There were quite a few jaw-dropping moments in this one that totally took me by surprise!
Heather Webber does small town magical realism SO well. I adored Midnight at the Blackbird Café so I was thrilled to get to read her newest!
How to read this book:
Step 1: buy cake. Like a lot of cake. Cookies might be advisable too.
Step 2: accept the fact that you are going to eat your weight in cake while reading this book.
This was such a fun read with Kristen! 🙌 There were quite a few jaw-dropping moments in this one that totally took me by surprise!
July 17, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber.
I am a huge fan of Heather Webber. I enjoy a good magical realism book.
It took me a bit to decipher all of the characters in the beginning. Listening to the audiobook does not afford you the option of just flipping back a page to see a character's name. This story flips back and forth between two perspectives. The women of Starlight carry magical powers that differ from woman to woman. Addie and Tessa Jane head back to their home town when their beloved aunt starts having heart trouble. You go on a roller coaster ride of emotions. This book is about family secrets, finding your purpose, learning to lean on others, friendship, love and magic.
I really enjoyed this book.
I am a huge fan of Heather Webber. I enjoy a good magical realism book.
It took me a bit to decipher all of the characters in the beginning. Listening to the audiobook does not afford you the option of just flipping back a page to see a character's name. This story flips back and forth between two perspectives. The women of Starlight carry magical powers that differ from woman to woman. Addie and Tessa Jane head back to their home town when their beloved aunt starts having heart trouble. You go on a roller coaster ride of emotions. This book is about family secrets, finding your purpose, learning to lean on others, friendship, love and magic.
I really enjoyed this book.
September 5, 2025
A lighthearted,cozy read. The small town feels and female characters reminded me of the movie Steel Magnolias. A good read if you're looking for something to just sit back and enjoy.
September 10, 2025
Heather Webber’s books are magical!
October 22, 2024
A story of how you don’t always pick your blood family, but do get to pick your true family! What a wonderful book with just a touch of whimsy.
July 10, 2025
This was very similar to the other novel I had read by this author, Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. I enjoyed the writing style, and it feels like a Hallmark movie, in a good way. But the story was so similar, I couldn’t rate it above a 3. But, I did enjoy this cozy read.
December 5, 2024
When voice actor Addie returns home to help elderly Aunt "Bean" run her bakery, she reunites with her half sister, pastry chef Tessa Jane.
"Fullbrights were supposed to use our gift of seeing bright sides to bring light and happiness to others."
After being unsuccessful at starting this book a few weeks ago, I'm so glad I tried again! The second time was the charm, and as they say, it was me, not you/aka the book haha. This was a heartwarming story about half sisters that finally allow themselves to bond and care for each other. Aunt Bean was great at helping them let go of their childhood resentments. I enjoyed her character, the light romance, the cake and cooking baking, and the magical realism was perfect for this time of year.
Midnight at the Blackbird Café (5 stars) and The Lights of Sugarberry Cove (4.5 stars) remain my favorite books by this author.
Location: Starlight, Alabama
"Fullbrights were supposed to use our gift of seeing bright sides to bring light and happiness to others."
After being unsuccessful at starting this book a few weeks ago, I'm so glad I tried again! The second time was the charm, and as they say, it was me, not you/aka the book haha. This was a heartwarming story about half sisters that finally allow themselves to bond and care for each other. Aunt Bean was great at helping them let go of their childhood resentments. I enjoyed her character, the light romance, the cake and cooking baking, and the magical realism was perfect for this time of year.
Midnight at the Blackbird Café (5 stars) and The Lights of Sugarberry Cove (4.5 stars) remain my favorite books by this author.
Location: Starlight, Alabama
June 6, 2025
very good easy read definitely held your interest !
July 23, 2024
Every book of Heather Webber’s books that I read is a wonder, and A Certain Kind of Starlight is no exception. This book felt personal to me, as I could relate so strongly to both Tessa Jane and Addie. Just like them, I’m someone who always looks on the bright side. Like them, there have been shadows that have tried to douse that light. I loved the way these two women tried so hard to move beyond the shadows, beyond the regrets they owned, beyond the ways others had a hand in making their lives both light and dark. There are some humdingers along the way, as secrets and truths are revealed. There are also many beautiful moments between not just Addie and Tessa Jane, but with beloved family and friends who make their lives shine. This is a book filled with charming and endearing characters, as well as some who are neither charming nor endearing; but they all join in to bring us this wonderful story about family, and about finding the pathway to a life that is filled with light and love. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher.
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