Where the Stars Heal

by K. Garrod

She thought her brother abandoned her, but HALLE DAWSON didn’t know the whole truth.

For years, Halle believed her brother had run away, leaving her to fight the darkness alone. The mean words, fear, and loneliness wrapped around her mind, dragging her down. But when Halle stumbles upon an unexpected letter, everything changes.
With nowhere else to go and drowning in her emotions, Halle takes a chance at a new life. Moving to Sunlit Cove was only supposed to be temporary–move in with her brother, get back on her feet, and leave.
She didn’t plan for them. For him.

He’s broody, cruel, and thinks she’s here for all the wrong reasons. ASHER HAYES is loved by everyone in Sunlit Cove, and he doesn’t want Halle to stay, even if everyone’s welcomed her with open arms.
Finding each other under the stars, their walls begin to crumble. Their connection deepens, and Asher is forced to face his own demons.
Can Asher stop running from what haunts him? Can Halle find the strength to heal and forgive? Is it possible to ever really heal from your past, or do some scars stay with you forever?

Where The Stars Heal is book one in the Sunlit Cove series. A found family, small town romance full of all the angst and emotion. This story will take you on a journey of healing, self discovery, and finding love.

Genres: Found Family, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2025

About the author

K.Garrod is an Indie Romance Author from the Gold Coast, Australia. She loves to write emotional angsty stories that will pull at your heartstrings and remind you what it feels like to heal and feel again.

When she isn't writing, you can find her diving into her favourite romance, fantasy, and thriller books, going on adventures with her husband, son, and two French Bulldogs, or baking in the kitchen.

K.Garrod also known as Kiki or Kirilee Garrod loves to connect with her readers and share all the upcoming sneak peeks.
Instagram: authork.garrod
TikTok: authork.garrod
Threads: authork.garrod

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus)]

I'm on the arc team! 🤸🏻‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️ This one caught my eye on IG and it's the author's debut. Sounds like a good one! Here we go! 🤞🏻💘

💘He Falls First
💘Brother's Best Friend
💘Small Town
💘Anxiety Rep
💘Found Family
💘Dual POV
💘Trauma Healing

Expected Pub Date - 04/16/25

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

𓍢⊹ 2.5 ⭐️

“𝑻𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏. 𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.“

this sounded so promising and started out pretty good and just kept and kept going downhill 😭

let’s start off with what i did like; this book was fast paced and the story flowed very easily, i read this in two sittings! i also really liked halle’s connection with art and her epilogue was very sweet! the side characters where like-able and i enjoyed the found family!

now, unfortunately, there was a lot i didn’t like…

this book deals with a lot of heavy topics; i loved seeing halle’s character growth but i wish it went more in depth/handled differently. there wasn’t much that happened that showed how she healed, therapy would’ve been amazing to see in this book! i also wish we saw more of hunter and halle’s relationship and healing together!!

wasn’t a fan of the age gap considering how the mmc was acting at his grown age but hey that might just be me

didn’t like the instant lusty thoughts between halle and asher, mostly from asher.

and the main thing i didn’t like about this: asher!!! and unlikeable asshole. i hated his thoughts and mindset towards a specific female character. (not the fmc or the side characters!!) slut shaming isn’t it! also his instant anger towards halle without ever knowing her plus the sudden switches to lust on top of that made my head hurt

halle and asher… i felt no connection between them and they felt forced to me 😭 they barely knew each other and everything between them happened so fast, there was no build up!!!

the spicy scenes gave me the biggest ick! the one where they secretly get into it in the living room while all their friends are RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THEM pissed me off so much HELLO?! hell even the dog was right there 😭 i skimmed each one that came after that one i couldn’t do it

thank you to the author for the arc!! i wasn’t able to read before release day bc life got in the way but i did enjoy binging this!

unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me and i hope other readers like it more than i did! i will say that i am so curious about hunters story, especially with the way this abruptly ended for him! i need answers! i have some theories and im so interested in his story, i will be tuning in for future books and looking forward to them!

[melissaa.maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘈 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵.

Oh my gosh, where do I begin.
Kiki, YOU DID IT. Congratulations on your upcoming debut baby. I am so proud of you. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this journey. I feel truly blessed to have met you through the bookstagram community, and I'm excited to see where this journey takes you as an author. 🫶🏼

Now to these babies, Halle and Asher.
These characters will be living in my heart rent free from now on, as well as everyone else in this freaking book.... including Ace 🐾
Give me ALL the found family feels. 🙌🏼

This was everything I needed and more. The wave of emotions it had me on from start to finish, all the trauma and healing. I loved every minute of it. Halle and Asher's character development was amazing. I loved them both from the beginning. Watching Halle overcome her anxiety struggles and grow as a person was so heartwarming. Seeing her confidence build and feeling wanted truly was special, and don't worry, Mr Angry Asher will grow on you 😏. He's one big broody MC on the outside, but inside, he is the sweetest and cares so much for everyone around him.

I 100% recommend this book with every fibre of my body. I'm so excited for everyone to finally meet Asher and Halle. BRB, moving to Sunlit Cove. 🏞

- Dual POV
- Small Town
- Brother's Best Friend
- Found Family
- Healing
- Anxiety Rep

* Please remember to check TW

[Endofmytrope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Stars Heal

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where do I even start with this one..
I was lucky enough to be an alpha reader for this and I am genuinely obsessed.
The characters, the angst, the DRAMA!!

One of the stand out things I loved about this book was Kiki’s ability to describe settings in a way that makes you feel like you’re actually there.. the town, the coffee shop, the waterfall.. I’m homesick for a fictional place 🥹

Because of this, it should come as no surprise that her portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks is so raw and real. The representation is so well done here.

The found family aspect? Perfection. Conner is so relatable and actually hilarious. There were moments I actually laughed while reading and I can’t wait to learn more about him.
I’m also dying for Hunter’s book as I NEED more of his story.

Asher and Halle? You can’t help but root for them from the very beginning.. The ride their relationship takes you on is wild in the best possible way. Buckle up 😏

This book had everything and the fact that it’s her DEBUT (are you KIDDING ME!) has me so excited to see what comes next.

I’m so proud of you, Kiki.
Congratulations on your first book.. the bar is set high friend 🤍

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t finished a book this quick in months!
If this is Kiki’s debut, I am so excited for each and every book after.
The story itself kept me intrigued from start to finish, Halle’s character development was pleasant to read, from suffering severe anxiety & watching her grow and start to feel comfortable with those around her.
The dual POV from Halle & Asher made the story easier to understand each perspective, having flash backs to both their past traumas which takes you into the direction of where the story heads.
I must say I did suspect one main plot twist but what happens next I was blind sided and was a clever thought out twist!
Loved all the side characters, the banter between them all was amusing & Asher was our favourite broody asshole 😅

All in all, this is a very fast paced read with no fluff but all the emotions. I am so impressed and can’t wait for Hunters book as it’s left on a tiny cliff hanger!

[Kelsi (kelsbrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of being an alpha reader of this book and it was SO BEAUTIFUL to read again, in its fill form

[Evida · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REWIEW 🌞✨
First of all, I want to thank Kirilee for choosing me as an ARC reader.This is the book that broke me and fixed me piece by piece.This book deserves so much love that I couldn't bear to think that anyone would hate it.This is everything I needed from a romantic book. Books about trauma and grief are truly multidimensional. The fact that the main characters eventually overcome them with each other's support is truly inspiring and wonderful. This book has a lot of anxiety representation which can be triggering in some high schools, but for me it helped a lot with my own anxiety. This brought up a lot of thoughts and feelings. Halle has been through hell and manages to find peace. So did Asher, who lost a lot.The other characters here stand out clearly and they all have their own personalities and are diverse. I loved the found family trope and the small town setting, too.I was an emotional whirlwind reading this book. I was really hooked from the first pages and managed to read this in three sittings. I loved this so much. I hope you all too love this too as much i did!🩷
Kirilii writes so good and that books being her debut book was so mindblowing🤯, i think her deserve anything what lives gets her. i love you to bring this story alive🥰

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️/5

[Trisha A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest ARC review

Halle & Asher’s story.
When we first met Halle I thought she was younger or immature, as the story progressed I saw that she didn’t have the room to grow up or mature properly due to trauma and dealing with things no child should. That really resonated with me. Halle is a survivor in more ways than one.
Again, I judged Asher too harshly when we were introduced to his character. Throughout the story I again, saw his past and linked his actions to his trauma.

Kiki has written the characters development in such a way that she wants you to judge, then understand and empathise with them. Did I cry? I may have gotten teary, three times? Four? Who is counting?
The understanding Kiki has clearly delivered about grief and anxiety speaks volumes on her struggles and survival, you can’t write something this healing and beautiful without having lived some aspect of it yourself.

Well done on your debut novel, and thank you for the opportunity to ARC read Where The Stars Heal.
I can’t wait to read about Hunter!

[Cdngurl85 · Rating 5 out of 5]

K. Garrod crushed her debut book! Where the Stars Heal is an absolute smash, I loved it so much and am impatiently waiting for book 2.

There are so many characters to love in this book, but my favourites would have to be the MCs Asher and Halle. These two just kill me....they had me laughing with their banter, gasping at their sexual tension, and almost crying at their emotional growth.

K. Garrod does an amazing job writing the storyline, developing her characters and making them relatable. Anyone who suffers anxiety who reads this will be like, wow, if she can get through this, I can too. K. Garrod's writing is inspiring and heartfelt.

I cannot wait for Book 2 to see what happens when Hunter stays back in their hometown.

[skyeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being near her is like staring up at the stars.

The prologued hooked me, and I couldn’t put this down once I started. It’s a quick, intense read, and such a solid debut from an Indie author!
—

this and that:
♡ anxiety rep
♡ best friend’s sibling
♡ dual pov
♡ found family
♡ he falls first
♡ loathe-to-love
♡ open door spice
♡ reconciliation
♡ red doors
♡ small town
♡ stargazing

triggers:
☞ death of a loved one
☞ domestic abuse
☞ drug use
☞ panic attacks
☞ parental neglect
☞ suicide
_

thank you to the author for the gifted review copy!
—

♡ find me on Instagram!

[Kiara Osorno · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐ ARC Review – Where the Stars Heal by K. Garrod
This emotional debut took me on a roller coaster I wasn’t ready to get off. Where the Stars Heal follows Halle and Asher as they navigate trauma, grief, healing, and the quiet strength of found family—all set in the cozy haven of Sunlit Cove.
K. Garrod’s writing made me feel everything. The dual POV was so well done, the characters felt real, and the emotional depth was raw and powerful. From sibling bonds to healing from heartbreak, this book handles tough topics with grace and care. I didn’t see the twist coming, and now I’m dying to return to Sunlit Cove.
A huge thank you to the author for my first ever ARC—it was intense, heartfelt, and unforgettable. I’ll definitely be grabbing a paperback.
Content Warnings: death of a loved one, domestic abuse, drug use, panic attacks, parental neglect, suicide.
Tropes:Small town Found Family Brother’s best friend Trauma, Healing, Anxiety rep, He falls first Dual pov

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC🤍

[Halie Darby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I say this with the utmost respect because this is a debut novel, but there’s a lot to unpack in this book that could have been better. I am thankful to have received Where the Stars Heal as an ARC for review but I found it to be a disappointing read overall.

I want to keep this review as concise as possible, so here are my chief complaints:

Substance misuse. This book has a compelling story of a male main character who struggled with substance misuse and faced many negative consequences as a result. If this is the character’s background - to the point where he shames someone for using prescription medication as prescribed - would he really continue to be heavily engaged in partying, drinking, and owning a bar? Asher’s story and his actions don’t add up.

And let’s address Halle’s anxiety meds/sleeping pills - she is supposedly using these as prescribed to sleep and we don’t see hints of substance misuse from her until she chooses to have one in combination with binge drinking. (Minus some concerning thoughts of wanting to disconnect, but as far as is covered in the story she was prescribed these and is not taking an overdose of medication when using them.) There is nothing wrong with taking prescribed medication in accordance with your doctor’s instructions, and I hated how these unnamed pills were used as a reason to shame Halle. Girl has crippling anxiety, she should be using whatever coping strategies she and her doctors have agreed upon.

Emotional Whiplash. This book covers some HEAVY topics and describes strong emotional reactions to them several times including panic attacks. How do the characters handle their trauma? Alcohol and sex - both of which are apparently enough to fix the people in this story.

Piper/Slut Shaming. Hated everything about this. Just a reminder that it takes two to tango and your mmc openly admitted he didn’t care for anything other than sex before meeting the fmc. This all felt incredibly childish. God forbid the girl can’t read minds and Asher never clearly conveyed his feelings to her - the person he almost hooked up with maybe a week before Halle.

Chemistry. I just don’t think there was any. Mmc is repeatedly a jerk and has wild mood swings (because a girl coming from an emotionally abusive household would be so into random bouts of anger, right?), and then suddenly decides to be nice. Sure.

I almost don’t even want to address my thoughts about two grown adults engaging in foreplay in a room with other grown adults while watching a movie but…. This is giving horny teenagers and just gave me massive ick.

Complaints aside, I do want to acknowledge that there was potential here. This book could have been so much more interesting if it focused on character development and healing as Hunter and Halle reconnected as adults to overcome their family trauma and relearn what being a family means. I think including the romantic relationship with Asher could have been done in a more compelling way as well, but the methods used to get their intimacy from A to Z just killed this book for me.

[Mona Friess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay wow, what a debut novel!💖
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and couldn’t be happier with the reading experience.

The emotional trauma, the heartbreak, the chemistry, the found family- this book has it all and I love it 🥰
Also, the small town this is set in sounds lit. I would totally move there 😅

I could really feel for the characters and understand their perspectives. I’m still mad at some of their decisions and I’m sure this was intentional.

I especially enjoyed that both main characters had trauma in their past and not just one of them. It really worked for the story.

And that twist 😱 I didn’t see that one coming and it broke my heart.

This is the first book of a series of interconnected standalones and the setup for book 2 is amazing. I can’t wait for this to continue 🤩

[Jen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh Asher

This book was so phenomenal I’ve been laying here thinking about it for HOURS. This book has found family, brothers best friend, grief and trauma healing, and spice. The characters are amazing and the friendships are pure. The moments are ones you wished were real and you could have been there for as an active participant. Uckkkkk it was sooo good! I cannot wait to see what else @authork.garrod comes up with!

[ChaptersWithClaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5)
🌶️🌶️

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The premise was very intriguing. I wanted to keep reading to find out more and more about Halle and Hunter, and wish we got some more sibling growth and moments!

The character growth did happen for Halle, I understand that this is a realistic way people deal with anxiety and loss but it almost felt like we didn't get anywhere until Asher came around. I do think they were good for eachother in the end. They both have sky high walls and both worked really hard to be there for each other.

The spice in this book was good, realistic and sweet! I feel like it was awkwardly placed sometimes kind of dwarfing some really great emotional moments, but overall the build up to the romance is a typical enemies to lovers or bully romance tones.

If you like brothers best friend and a grumpy asshole MMC absolutely read this! I'll be honest I DID NOT see that little plot twist at the end coming!!!! Caught me right off guard.

This book heavily discusses anxiety, drug misuse, child abuse and other heavy topics. Please read trigger warnings.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to be part of the ARC team and is one of the best debut books I've read.

I don't remember the last time a book touched me that deep I ended crying but here I am.

When I came across K.Garrod and the ARC form I was a bit unsure if it was cut for me (even after asking for more in deep about the TW) But I gave it a chance and I'm completely in love with the story.

The portrayal of the pain, the grief and the anxiety is raw and so real sometimes it made me lost myself in my own pain. Is something I treasure in a novel when there's talks about heavy themes. It made feel seen.

The way you can understand the "family is not always blood related" with the group of friends Halle found herself in, is sweet and deep.
Asher and Halle story is one of those i will love forever. The pain, the strength, the vulnerability, the banter, the love. The flashbacks of their own traumas and how they shaped them the way they did.
I loved him but Halle is, definitely, my favourite here. She's so strong and she doesn't really know it.

If you like small-town romance filled with angst and healing, but love and laughs too...this is your book.

Can't wait for Hunter's book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.7

[Nikita Raghunauth · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

From the beginning, it was the type of book you want to keep reading because you want to know what happens between the FMC & MMC.

It’s a story following Halle & Asher as they deal with their own individual traumas in life while developing feelings for each other. Halle struggling through her anxiety and trauma whilst working to form a new bond with her brother and create a new life and family for herself in a small town called Sunlit Cove.

The last 20% of the book. It really had me at the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put the book down, I needed to know what happened. It was giving thriller.

Random: but my fav moment was when he reached over and buckled her in the truck 🤭 so little, but so cute.

If you love healing, found family, enemies to lovers, small town, dual POV, brothers friend tropes, this is for you. But do check trigger warnings, this book is very heavy with certain themes.

Cons:

The spice scenes were fun, and very realistic. But some of them didn’t fit well at some moments in the book. It felt like the author was trying hard to add more spice in, but where it was added wasn’t necessarily fitting, it was more so, at uncomfortable, and vulnerable moments that didn’t really need that aspect. Those vulnerable moments were less impactful to me because it was just thrown aside for sexual activity.

I felt the feelings between the MMC & FMC were underdeveloped and they came about abruptly, I felt something was missing to establish the start of their relationship. It happened too fast.

The mental health, portrayal of anxiety/trauma took over the FMCs entire life, alongside the trauma, which I know in real life that does happen but for the book, I felt like it was an over arching theme, that took away from the romance aspect of the storyline. I felt like the plot was sort of non existent and the book was heavily relying on the anxiety/trauma aspect as the sole plot.

[Allisyn Gravitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"why is the door red?"

I was lucky enough to get an ARC. LET ME TELL YOU, the way this book got me in my feels straight away and The way K. Garrod brings to life the emotional scars that our main characters deal with is *chefs kiss*

Halle is our emotionally scarred FMC who is able to harness her inner strength and confidence. Asher is our grumpy MMC who is nothing but a golden retriever for his girl.

I felt as if I was a part of this world. I'm glad I was able to feel the emotions she had portrayed in this story and witness the healing from the trauma our main characters experienced.


I would say the biggest trigger in this book would be emotional and physical trauma due to abandonment. I wish there was more of Halle and Asher story and am hoping with Hunters book we get more of them.

[Kirsten Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start??!

I was blessed to be an arc reader for this amazing book! I open my arc while waiting for the bus read the prologue and I’m already sobbing out in public.

The pain and emotion is raw and palpable drawing you in and making you feel to immensely.

Halle is so incredibly strong to get through all she has lived through and Asher is power and brace pulling through his terrible dark past.

As a child of abuse this book was cathartic in a way I cannot describe, being seen for the pain we hold and the anxiety buried within our every thought and movement is exhilarating and lighting to my heavy soul.

Thank you K.Garrod for such and amazing novel I cannot wait to read Hunters story next.

[WhatJo13reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is such an emotional ride. I cannot believe it is the author’s debut novel. She has written a beautiful romance between Halle and Asher.

🎨 Depression and anxiety rep
🎨 Healing from trauma
🎨 Found family
🎨 Brother’s best friend

Please check the trigger warnings though I feel the author deals with some sensitive subjects in a kind and compassionate way.

I cannot wait to get Hunter’s book and I am hoping we get to see more of the characters from Sunlit Cove.

[Morgan W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town • Brothers Best Friend • Dual POV • Found family • Anxiety Rep • Healing • All the angst • Fast Paced•

This was a small town story which packed a big punch!
I was captured by the characters quickly and unpacking their trauma background and then watching them grow (both separately and together) was a privilege. While this book explores some intense themes, I found it easy to read and well written. My own experience of anxiety differs from Halle, but the way her inner voice is written at times during the book resonated for me. Found family for me is always a comfort theme and this family is one I could imagine having pancake night with.
I devoured this read and am thankful to have the opportunity to be part of the ARC team.

[M’ya Forcum · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh i absolutely read this in just a few hours, it was that damn good!
the chemistry between Asher & Halle was amazing even if he started out kinda mean you could just tell that he had the same pain as her.
Seeing what Halle & Asher were both dealing with & how they helped each other overcome & heal was absolutely beautiful ❤️
i cannot wait for the second book😍
thank you to the author for this ARC!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halle is 21, lost, and angry at the world. She’s been drowning in resentment and anxiety since her life was shattered at a young age. Moving in with her older brother in Sunlit Cove is her last shot at turning things around. But letting people in? That’s not her style. Art has always been her escape, the one thing that’s kept her afloat. And now, with Asher around, the walls she’s built seem harder to maintain.

Asher, at 29, is just as haunted. He’s ashamed of his past and terrified that having Halle in his life will drag him back to the darkness he’s fought so hard to escape. He’s a no-relationship, keep-your-distance kind of guy. But there’s something about Halle that makes him want to break through her walls.

Kiki’s writing is captivating. The story flows effortlessly, making it easy to lose yourself in Sunlit Cove. The chapters are the perfect length, keeping the pace just right without ever dragging. I didn’t want it to end, and I’m already eager to see what Kiki writes next.

If you’re looking for a story that tugs at your heart, explores deep emotional wounds, and shows the strength it takes to heal, this one’s for you.

Thank you to K. Garrod for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

[Kaitlyn Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you K. Garrod for this ARC Book! 📚❤️

Oh my gosh! This book is seriously so good. It is such a rollercoaster but I could not put it down. This is one of the best debut books I have ever read. The chemistry between Asher & Halle is amazing and I couldn’t get enough. The found family trope is one of my favs! I can’t wait for the next book!!!

[Brooke. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘏𝘦𝘺, 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳?” 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺.
“𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘰𝘰.”

• Dual POV
• Small town
• Brothers best friend
• Found family
• Trauma healing
• Anxiety rep

*please remember to check TW.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of WTSH and can I just say, it’s hard to believe that this is actually a debut novel! (Although let’s be real, did we expect anything less?)
Well done babe. It’s been so exciting watching you take this journey. We know just how proud you are to have your baby out in the world! I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Halle and Asher’s story.

My heart hurt so much for Halle throughout this book but I swear nothing soothes it like a broody asshole with a hidden “let me take care of you” personality. Ashers understanding of Halle had me swooning every time, the way he just knows what she’s thinking and when she needs grounding spoke to my heart. And it really couldn’t have come soon enough because I won’t lie Kiki….when he stepped on page for the first time I definitely had a “who the heck does he think he is” moment 😂 but I knew I just had to trust the process and from that moment on I was dying to understand him more. Their story is both sad and sweet.
The supporting characters were also so enjoyable. I spent alot of the book wondering what was going to happen next and with who and I have so many questions and speculations my mind is reeling! I can’t wait to get the rest of the Sunlit Cove crews stories! I can already tell Connor is going to be a favourite!

[AmbzyRoseBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘰𝘰”

Where The Stars Heal is releasing in a few days and I’m beyond excited for everyone to read it because for a debut novel? Kiki did the damn thing.

I don’t even know how to put into words how much I absolutely adored Asher and Halle. Their story had me all up in my feels. One moment I was swooning, giggling, kicking my feet and then the next I was choked up with emotion with the angst they’re both dealing with grief and past traumas and Halle trying to overcome her anxiety while being an anxious girly myself her character really resonated with me.

It was such a beautiful story, the twists and turns that i was not expecting and the found family vibes were perfection it’s something that I always LOVE in books.

also the ending? Excuse me I NEED the next book I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next in Sunlit Cove.

Please make sure to check your trigger warnings.

✨small town
✨brothers best friend
✨found family
✨trauma healing
✨anxiety rep

thank you so much Kiki for sending me an e-arc of your book baby 😍

[Samantha Barty · Rating 5 out of 5]

the way I literally can't fault one thing about this book. the writing, found family & small town vibes, the emotion and healing!!!!! so damn good 🥹
the story was so easy to follow, so fast paced and so easily bingeable. every chapter never failed to hold my attention!

I've already read it twice now and I love it even more the second time around!! Asher & Halle have my entire heart, their relationship growth and progress was such a fun and emotional little ride that I'm so glad I was on!! 

at times I felt so seen by Halle's character, I related so much to her feelings of anxiety. there's something so comforting about reading about a character who has the same deep inside struggles as you!! + the way this was portrayed was done so well, not too much but enough to make you understand the character and feel that deeper connection. 

and the side characters?!!! guyyyys!!!!! I love hunter and Asher, but I LOOOOVE Connor sm, he's my type of man 🫡 
the fact that I was able to fall in love with not only the main characters but all of the side characters too just speaks for itself really.

so incredibly proud of my girl Kiki for writing her first debut novel and absolutely killing it!! witnessing her enter this whole new journey in life and entering in her AUTHOR ERA has been so incredible! 🤩
I am so so so grateful that I was able to BETA read this & show my support to a good friend of mine.

[Misstdennis]

RTC!

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars isn’t enough because this book deserves ALL. THE. STARS!!!

“She’s my favorite everything, scent, taste, touch, sight. All of it.”

I had the honour of Beta reading this one and honestly from the prologue I was hooked. The way that the perspective of a child was written was so well done, it felt like words and feelings a child would actually have and it made it so much more meaningful.

The small town and the descriptions were amazing, Sunlit Cove definitely sounded like somewhere I’d want to call home. And then we have the characters 🥹
I loved Halle from the get go, her memories and seeing her struggles with her anxiety and all her trauma was emotional to read but also so beautiful seeing all she overcomes and her character growth.
Asher was the perfect match for Halle in every way. Mr angry has a special place in my heart and his story nearly broke me.
Connor needs to be protected at all costs! I have already asked Kiki to please ensure nothing bad ever happens to this man🤣

The group texts. The friends who are family. The loveable pup. The nickname (sweetheart 🥰 SWOON). The twists I didn’t see coming. This book was amazing and I honestly can’t believe it is a debut. I loved it so so much and cannot wait for more of this world.