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Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay
A widowed and grieving young novelist believes her words create realities—both tragic and charmed—in a hopeful and surprising novel about family, newfound love, and moving on.
Four years after her husband Sam’s tragic death mirrored a fatal plotline in her debut novel, Thea Packer hasn’t written another word, afraid that what she writes could come true again. Resigned to raising her young daughter in her in-laws’ guesthouse, Thea is on the verge of abandoning her literary career when inspiration strikes.
Her new book is a fairy-tale romance featuring a long-lost astronaut who miraculously returns home to his family, with the hero loosely drawn from Thea’s memories of Sam. Thea considers the fantasy a harmless way to process her grief.
That is, until a charismatic man walks into her life—and he’s an astronaut.
Thea can’t believe it’s happening again. Or is it? Her mother-in-law doesn’t think so—she sees only a woman increasingly detached from reality. Now, as coincidences between Thea’s writing and reality pile up, Thea must unravel the secrets of her past and tackle her grief head-on before she loses more than she ever imagined.
Four years after her husband Sam’s tragic death mirrored a fatal plotline in her debut novel, Thea Packer hasn’t written another word, afraid that what she writes could come true again. Resigned to raising her young daughter in her in-laws’ guesthouse, Thea is on the verge of abandoning her literary career when inspiration strikes.
Her new book is a fairy-tale romance featuring a long-lost astronaut who miraculously returns home to his family, with the hero loosely drawn from Thea’s memories of Sam. Thea considers the fantasy a harmless way to process her grief.
That is, until a charismatic man walks into her life—and he’s an astronaut.
Thea can’t believe it’s happening again. Or is it? Her mother-in-law doesn’t think so—she sees only a woman increasingly detached from reality. Now, as coincidences between Thea’s writing and reality pile up, Thea must unravel the secrets of her past and tackle her grief head-on before she loses more than she ever imagined.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2025
About the author
Tracy Dobmeier
2 books167 followersTracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have been great friends for over 25 years. Their debut novel, GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES, was a suspenseful journey into the cutthroat world of college admissions, which earned starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal, and was named a “Book Club Winner” by REAL SIMPLE and an Apple Best Book. Tracy holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a J.D from UC Berkeley and worked in biotechnology law and non-profit leadership. Wendy was a nationally ranked youth tennis player, and went on to play at the University of Michigan, where she earned her undergraduate degree, followed by a career in medical marketing. Tracy and Wendy both live in Seattle with their husbands. They enjoy sports, reading (obviously), civic engagement, and spending time with their amazing families and friends. You can often find them together brainstorming and walking their dogs, Shadow and Josie. Connect with Tracy and Wendy on Instagram at @katzndobs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 660 reviews
January 6, 2026
When Thea’s husband is tragically killed shortly after the release of her debut novel and his death eerily mirrors that of the MMC in her story, she stops writing, terrified that her words might have the power to create reality. Four years after Sam’s death, Thea decides to write again, switching genres from her debut to romance and thinking what can it hurt to write a book with a happy ending. She plans to test her theory by writing about an astronaut who returns to his family after being lost in space. But then she meets a handsome stranger at the dog park who just happens to be an astronaut.
After reading the premise of this story, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I have a soft spot for young widow MCs who feel guilty about moving on with life after losing a spouse. Thea’s story is a bit messy, and I found myself frustrated with some of her actions, but overall I was rooting for her to find happiness after tragedy. The topic of grief is handled with care and well balanced with humor, but more than that, this is also a story about forgiveness, friendship and finding the strength to move forward.
While I’m not normally a fan of open endings, I felt it worked for this story. Keep in mind you will have to suspend some disbelief, which is not uncommon in this genre, but if you go with it, I think you will find this an enjoyable read.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Megan Tusing, who did a great job giving each character their own distinct voice and using the right amount of emotion when needed without over-exaggerating, which can be an issue with some narrators.
This is my first book by this pair of authors, who have been friends for over 25 years, but I will definitely be checking out their debut novel together.
Available now and available in Kindle Unlimited. Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio via NetGalley for my ALC. 🎧
After reading the premise of this story, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I have a soft spot for young widow MCs who feel guilty about moving on with life after losing a spouse. Thea’s story is a bit messy, and I found myself frustrated with some of her actions, but overall I was rooting for her to find happiness after tragedy. The topic of grief is handled with care and well balanced with humor, but more than that, this is also a story about forgiveness, friendship and finding the strength to move forward.
While I’m not normally a fan of open endings, I felt it worked for this story. Keep in mind you will have to suspend some disbelief, which is not uncommon in this genre, but if you go with it, I think you will find this an enjoyable read.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Megan Tusing, who did a great job giving each character their own distinct voice and using the right amount of emotion when needed without over-exaggerating, which can be an issue with some narrators.
This is my first book by this pair of authors, who have been friends for over 25 years, but I will definitely be checking out their debut novel together.
Available now and available in Kindle Unlimited. Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio via NetGalley for my ALC. 🎧
December 2, 2025
TW: Grief (loss of spouse, parents loss of grown child)
It’s been four years since novelist Thea Packer’s husband Sam died while out for a run-the same way that the character in her debut novel died-and she hasn’t written another word since.
The reason? The grieving widow and single mom to her precocious daughter, Lucy (a scene stealer) is afraid that what she writes could become reality because that wasn’t the first time that her written words preceded a tragic outcome.
When her literary agent continues to push her for another book, she has an epiphany-why not write a book with a Happily Ever After ending…
Her new book is a fairy-tale romance about an astronaut lost in space who miraculously returns home to his wife and the daughter he never met, loosely based on her own life and her memories of Sam.
And then it happens again.
She meets a charming man at a dog park and he’s an astronaut.
What are the odds?
Thea can’t believe it’s happening again and neither can her best friend Frannie or her In-Laws- who are all afraid that Thea is losing touch with reality.
Written from the first person POV of Thea-who seems like a rational person, minus a few questionable decisions-I was intrigued to find out what was ACTUALLY happening.
I was expecting MAGICAL REALISM but this HOPEFUL story is really more about grief, personal growth and learning to move on. Co-authored by two best friends, this story feels AUTHENTIC. As a bonus, we get insight into a writer’s world, including the way they follow the book’s launch on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon, which I also enjoyed.
Despite some long chapters, this story was FRESH, UNIQUE and ENGAGING from the start! But, what kept it from earning the fifth star was an ending that I wasn’t quite onboard with.
Did MarilynW and DeAnn feel differently about the denouement? Be sure to watch for their reviews!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
It’s been four years since novelist Thea Packer’s husband Sam died while out for a run-the same way that the character in her debut novel died-and she hasn’t written another word since.
The reason? The grieving widow and single mom to her precocious daughter, Lucy (a scene stealer) is afraid that what she writes could become reality because that wasn’t the first time that her written words preceded a tragic outcome.
When her literary agent continues to push her for another book, she has an epiphany-why not write a book with a Happily Ever After ending…
Her new book is a fairy-tale romance about an astronaut lost in space who miraculously returns home to his wife and the daughter he never met, loosely based on her own life and her memories of Sam.
And then it happens again.
She meets a charming man at a dog park and he’s an astronaut.
What are the odds?
Thea can’t believe it’s happening again and neither can her best friend Frannie or her In-Laws- who are all afraid that Thea is losing touch with reality.
Written from the first person POV of Thea-who seems like a rational person, minus a few questionable decisions-I was intrigued to find out what was ACTUALLY happening.
I was expecting MAGICAL REALISM but this HOPEFUL story is really more about grief, personal growth and learning to move on. Co-authored by two best friends, this story feels AUTHENTIC. As a bonus, we get insight into a writer’s world, including the way they follow the book’s launch on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon, which I also enjoyed.
Despite some long chapters, this story was FRESH, UNIQUE and ENGAGING from the start! But, what kept it from earning the fifth star was an ending that I wasn’t quite onboard with.
Did MarilynW and DeAnn feel differently about the denouement? Be sure to watch for their reviews!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
January 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay" follows Thea, an author and single mom dealing with guilt and grief over her husband's death. The reason - he died in the exact same way that the protagonist died in her book.
This leads Thea to suspect that her writing can create realities. As a way to heal, she decides to write a book with a happily ever after. It's a romance novel focusing on an astronaut coming home after a five-year disappearance. On the publishing day, Thea meets a charming, handsome man. And he's an astronaut.
This is a story about love, connection, friendship, grief, and healing. As Thea learns to move on without letting go, we are taken on a journey of forgiveness and growth. This story was very emotion-driven, but still very interesting.
My main issue was that the ending seemed extremely unbelievable and didn't quite fit with the themes. I think it would have been better if it were less centered on romance and more so on Thea's healing.
If you are looking for a story of change, growth, and grief, read this once it's released on November 4th!
"Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay" follows Thea, an author and single mom dealing with guilt and grief over her husband's death. The reason - he died in the exact same way that the protagonist died in her book.
This leads Thea to suspect that her writing can create realities. As a way to heal, she decides to write a book with a happily ever after. It's a romance novel focusing on an astronaut coming home after a five-year disappearance. On the publishing day, Thea meets a charming, handsome man. And he's an astronaut.
This is a story about love, connection, friendship, grief, and healing. As Thea learns to move on without letting go, we are taken on a journey of forgiveness and growth. This story was very emotion-driven, but still very interesting.
My main issue was that the ending seemed extremely unbelievable and didn't quite fit with the themes. I think it would have been better if it were less centered on romance and more so on Thea's healing.
If you are looking for a story of change, growth, and grief, read this once it's released on November 4th!
December 26, 2025
2.5 Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of this audiobook.
I'm not sure of this book. I HATED the in laws, Thea was very kooky, and what spaceship mission takes only a week?
Who leaves their 5 year old with a man they have never freaking met?! Wtf
The twists were not things I predicted, but I didn't like it, either way.
Also, hated the ending. Wtf is that?!
I'm not sure of this book. I HATED the in laws, Thea was very kooky, and what spaceship mission takes only a week?
Who leaves their 5 year old with a man they have never freaking met?! Wtf
The twists were not things I predicted, but I didn't like it, either way.
Also, hated the ending. Wtf is that?!
November 7, 2025
Grief counseling book
This book for me started rather slow. Building the characters character. I did not like the f-words or the texting porn, even if it was minimal.
What I did like was Thea going to grief counseling. What I didn't like was the interference with her in-laws.
This book for me started rather slow. Building the characters character. I did not like the f-words or the texting porn, even if it was minimal.
What I did like was Thea going to grief counseling. What I didn't like was the interference with her in-laws.
November 21, 2025
I fear this may be one of the dumbest books I’ve ever read.
January 26, 2026
I really liked Girls with Bright Futures so I wanted to give this one a go.
Thea is an author and single mom to Lucy. After 4 years she is still struggling with the tragic loss of her husband and the peculiar way that he died. It was the exact same way that the main character died in her book. There is speculation that her words caused his accident. She hasn’t written anything since, and if there is any way possible for her words to become reality, then her pre written next book will never see the light of day. It dawns on her to write a book with a happy ending of a long lost astronaut who is reunited with his family.
Great, right? So what are the chances that on the day that book is published she meets a handsome stranger who happens to be an astronaut?!
I was here for magical realism and romance but what I got was a story about life breaking apart in different ways and healing from it all. It had its cringe moments and there were disappointing characters but all in all it was a good story.
Thea is an author and single mom to Lucy. After 4 years she is still struggling with the tragic loss of her husband and the peculiar way that he died. It was the exact same way that the main character died in her book. There is speculation that her words caused his accident. She hasn’t written anything since, and if there is any way possible for her words to become reality, then her pre written next book will never see the light of day. It dawns on her to write a book with a happy ending of a long lost astronaut who is reunited with his family.
Great, right? So what are the chances that on the day that book is published she meets a handsome stranger who happens to be an astronaut?!
I was here for magical realism and romance but what I got was a story about life breaking apart in different ways and healing from it all. It had its cringe moments and there were disappointing characters but all in all it was a good story.
December 4, 2025
5 really big stars!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved this book sooooo much. I knew I was going to enjoy it, (because I love the authors!) but it exceeded my expectations. This will certainly be a favourite of 2025!
This story is moving and heartfelt. It's also unique which is always such a bonus!! A great cast of well fleshed out characters, and a believable storyline.
I will forever gravitate towards books about books.
Highly recommend Ten Thousand Light Years From Okay. Don't miss out on this book! It would make an excellent book club pick. There's so much to discuss!
My thanks to Booksparks for this gifted copy.
I loved this book sooooo much. I knew I was going to enjoy it, (because I love the authors!) but it exceeded my expectations. This will certainly be a favourite of 2025!
This story is moving and heartfelt. It's also unique which is always such a bonus!! A great cast of well fleshed out characters, and a believable storyline.
I will forever gravitate towards books about books.
Highly recommend Ten Thousand Light Years From Okay. Don't miss out on this book! It would make an excellent book club pick. There's so much to discuss!
My thanks to Booksparks for this gifted copy.
November 23, 2025
Very slow moving. Not realistic. Grieving was not believable.
Read
June 27, 2026I had no idea where this was going.
January 16, 2026
This book has every element that makes a romance novel so wonderful: hope, banter, humour, belief in magic/fate, and the importance of family and self-development. I love romances that are a bit more realistic and confront the more challenging times in life that aren't always the most pretty and fun. The twist in this book DELIVERS. Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, Netgalley, and the amazing narration done by Megan Tusing for the wonderful opportunity to experience this story through an ALC. All opinions are my own.
Novelist Thea Packer has taken a hiatus from writing ever since the death of her beloved husband, Sam. In her grief and struggle to come to terms with his loss, she has become convinced that her writing holds special powers. In her last book, a man dies and she's convinced she wrote Sam's death into reality. She becomes even more convinced of her powers when she resumes writing about an astronaut who returns home to his wife and kid after being presumed dead in outer space for years. She does so in an attempt to ressurect Sam, however she ends up meeting a real astronaut who begins dating her and falling in love.
However, her family cannot bring themselves to be happy for her. Instead they are growing increasingly concerned for her mental health and dig deeper to find out who her new boyfriend is and how this could be possible - is it truly magic coming to life through Thea's writing, or is there something more sinister going on?
QOTD: Would you believe in a friend's finding true love through stranger coincidence, or would you doubt it and dig for the drama??
Novelist Thea Packer has taken a hiatus from writing ever since the death of her beloved husband, Sam. In her grief and struggle to come to terms with his loss, she has become convinced that her writing holds special powers. In her last book, a man dies and she's convinced she wrote Sam's death into reality. She becomes even more convinced of her powers when she resumes writing about an astronaut who returns home to his wife and kid after being presumed dead in outer space for years. She does so in an attempt to ressurect Sam, however she ends up meeting a real astronaut who begins dating her and falling in love.
However, her family cannot bring themselves to be happy for her. Instead they are growing increasingly concerned for her mental health and dig deeper to find out who her new boyfriend is and how this could be possible - is it truly magic coming to life through Thea's writing, or is there something more sinister going on?
QOTD: Would you believe in a friend's finding true love through stranger coincidence, or would you doubt it and dig for the drama??
November 6, 2025
4.5★
this novel had me hooked from the very beginning! from the moment i read the blurb actually. the premise sounded super interesting and it did not disappoint.
the inner dialogue and just dialogue of thea had me giggling to myself out loud at times. i found the authors’ writing to be so funny and real. the story was written in a way that made me HAVE to keep reading to find out what happens. it almost felt like a mystery in that sense.
this book has an overlying theme of grief, so definitely don’t expect all rainbows and sunshine. not that you would expect that from a title like “ten thousand light years from okay”. while there are some funny parts, there are also some very sad parts where you can feel thea’s pain. i love books like this! i want to feel something, and this book definitely made me feel many emotions. there is a subplot that is briefly mentioned in the synopsis that i really enjoyed, but also literally broke my heart. i started to feel like these characters were real at a certain point.
there was enough emotion, humor, drama, and a little bit of romance that i think anyone would enjoy this book! i definitely recommend this one when it publishes on december 1, 2025!
thank you to lake union publishing and netgalley for the free eARC ♥
this novel had me hooked from the very beginning! from the moment i read the blurb actually. the premise sounded super interesting and it did not disappoint.
the inner dialogue and just dialogue of thea had me giggling to myself out loud at times. i found the authors’ writing to be so funny and real. the story was written in a way that made me HAVE to keep reading to find out what happens. it almost felt like a mystery in that sense.
this book has an overlying theme of grief, so definitely don’t expect all rainbows and sunshine. not that you would expect that from a title like “ten thousand light years from okay”. while there are some funny parts, there are also some very sad parts where you can feel thea’s pain. i love books like this! i want to feel something, and this book definitely made me feel many emotions. there is a subplot that is briefly mentioned in the synopsis that i really enjoyed, but also literally broke my heart. i started to feel like these characters were real at a certain point.
there was enough emotion, humor, drama, and a little bit of romance that i think anyone would enjoy this book! i definitely recommend this one when it publishes on december 1, 2025!
thank you to lake union publishing and netgalley for the free eARC ♥
November 8, 2025
Oh dear. I was not very impressed. So repetitive- I did a lot of skimming.
The porn and language was unnecessary. It added nothing to the story.
The porn and language was unnecessary. It added nothing to the story.
November 19, 2025
felt like it could’ve been cut in half & also she talked too much about a shower head. not a satisfying ending
August 3, 2026
Ten Thousand Light Years From Okay is the second novel by American authors, Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman. Thirty-one year-old widow and mother of one, Thea Packer has just published a happy-ever-after romance novel. Love You To Mars And Back looks like being a hit.
Eighteen months earlier, her writing career was on hold. She was working in her in-laws’ ad agency, raising three-and-a-half-year-old Lucy, and still trying to overcome the sudden loss of her husband Sam four years earlier. Sam’s death mimicked that of protagonist in the novel she had just published.
She couldn’t let her agent sell her new manuscript because it centred on a kidnapped child, and her superstition that life was imitating art, that what she wrote would become reality, made her afraid for her child. It wasn’t the first time something she’d written had come true, or so she believed.
But her agent gave her a deadline: submit something soon, or they were done. So Mars a far cry from her previous book, for good reason. An astronaut who was lost in space, returning to his waiting wife: if this turned real, fine. Then, encountering gorgeous Max, an astronaut, on her novel’s publication day? Was this really happening?
This may seem a bit romcom: there’s plenty of humour, and a good dose of romance; but it goes much deeper than that, exploring grief and guilt, control, friendship and loyalty, and there are a couple of jaw-dropping betrayals that take the plot where few readers could predict. Thought-provoking and moving, but ultimately, a heart-warming happily ever after.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
Eighteen months earlier, her writing career was on hold. She was working in her in-laws’ ad agency, raising three-and-a-half-year-old Lucy, and still trying to overcome the sudden loss of her husband Sam four years earlier. Sam’s death mimicked that of protagonist in the novel she had just published.
She couldn’t let her agent sell her new manuscript because it centred on a kidnapped child, and her superstition that life was imitating art, that what she wrote would become reality, made her afraid for her child. It wasn’t the first time something she’d written had come true, or so she believed.
But her agent gave her a deadline: submit something soon, or they were done. So Mars a far cry from her previous book, for good reason. An astronaut who was lost in space, returning to his waiting wife: if this turned real, fine. Then, encountering gorgeous Max, an astronaut, on her novel’s publication day? Was this really happening?
This may seem a bit romcom: there’s plenty of humour, and a good dose of romance; but it goes much deeper than that, exploring grief and guilt, control, friendship and loyalty, and there are a couple of jaw-dropping betrayals that take the plot where few readers could predict. Thought-provoking and moving, but ultimately, a heart-warming happily ever after.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
December 17, 2025
honestly the way the plot went did save it bc i fully thought it was gonna be a super cringey romance, so when it turned out not to be i was like ok alright this might not be awful. but like every character just lowkey annoyed me. and how it ended??? i knew it was coming but it wasn’t sweet it was just a bit ridiculous? i rolled my eyes a lot
November 1, 2025
The premise of this book hooked me immediately - an author whose writing determines her future? Sign me up! I expected a cute romance and ended up utterly moved by this book's range. Ten Thousand Light Years From Okay is a beautiful testament to the power of grief, love, hope, and joy we all experience in our daily lives, and dares us to create a life we can only dream of (and, okay, sign up for therapy).
*Thanks to the authors for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review!*
*Thanks to the authors for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review!*
December 15, 2025
Honestly this was an absolute trip. I couldn’t stop reading this story of a woman who believes she has the power to influence her life through her words.
After her husband dies the same way that she had written a husband dying in her first book, Thea is terrified of putting her stories down on paper again. She decides instead to write a story of an astronaut husband coming back…. And then meets a disturbingly handsome astronaut at a dog park. What are the chances?
This went in a million different directions I didn’t expect but I had a great time reading it! The perfect rom com full of hope, love, and humour.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available December 1, 2025
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
After her husband dies the same way that she had written a husband dying in her first book, Thea is terrified of putting her stories down on paper again. She decides instead to write a story of an astronaut husband coming back…. And then meets a disturbingly handsome astronaut at a dog park. What are the chances?
This went in a million different directions I didn’t expect but I had a great time reading it! The perfect rom com full of hope, love, and humour.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available December 1, 2025
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 20, 2025
Ten Thousand Light Years from Okay is AMAZING.
I devoured this book and had to force myself to slow down so I wouldn’t miss anything.
Thea is a sweet gal who is struggling with the loss of her husband. Her grief consumes her in a unique way, and she’s led to believe that what she writes becomes true. When she finally finds the courage to write a new novel, one that is outside her traditional literary fiction, her life takes a fantastical turn, that further makes Thea question herself. With everything going on, I couldn’t help but fall even deeper into the story which speaks to the magnetic writing style of the authors.
At the end of the day, Ten Thousand Light Years is about grief, obviously—but it’s also about finding the courage to move forward when life takes turns that are beyond your control or even your understanding. I appreciated the growth we see in Thea, I loved her best friend Frannie, and because I am a world-class sucker, I was also a fan of Max. :)
“Life was far more interesting when it was free to go off-script—and imagining happiness was no match for actually being happy.”
I devoured this book and had to force myself to slow down so I wouldn’t miss anything.
Thea is a sweet gal who is struggling with the loss of her husband. Her grief consumes her in a unique way, and she’s led to believe that what she writes becomes true. When she finally finds the courage to write a new novel, one that is outside her traditional literary fiction, her life takes a fantastical turn, that further makes Thea question herself. With everything going on, I couldn’t help but fall even deeper into the story which speaks to the magnetic writing style of the authors.
At the end of the day, Ten Thousand Light Years is about grief, obviously—but it’s also about finding the courage to move forward when life takes turns that are beyond your control or even your understanding. I appreciated the growth we see in Thea, I loved her best friend Frannie, and because I am a world-class sucker, I was also a fan of Max. :)
“Life was far more interesting when it was free to go off-script—and imagining happiness was no match for actually being happy.”
Did Not Finish
January 27, 2026DNF-35%- Absolutely not. I thought I could live with the invasive and insufferable in laws but as soon as Max entered I knew something wasn’t right, he’s a literal stage 5 clinger, who sends 6 back to back messages to someone they’ve just met at like 2am? Dude calm down you’re giving red flag energy and I’m sorry but Thea was no better. Girl kissed him once and suddenly she’s out here buying a bagful of condoms. Slow down love, 4 chapters prior she’s was still crying over her dead husband……
August 3, 2026
Ten Thousand Light Years From Okay is the second novel by American authors, Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman. The audio version is narrated by Megan Tusing. Thirty-one year-old widow and mother of one, Thea Packer has just published a happy-ever-after romance novel. Love You To Mars And Back looks like being a hit.
Eighteen months earlier, her writing career was on hold. She was working in her in-laws’ ad agency, raising three-and-a-half-year-old Lucy, and still trying to overcome the sudden loss of her husband Sam four years earlier. Sam’s death mimicked that of protagonist in the novel she had just published.
She couldn’t let her agent sell her new manuscript because it centred on a kidnapped child, and her superstition that life was imitating art, that what she wrote would become reality, made her afraid for her child. It wasn’t the first time something she’d written had come true, or so she believed.
But her agent gave her a deadline: submit something soon, or they were done. So Mars a far cry from her previous book, for good reason. An astronaut who was lost in space, returning to his waiting wife: if this turned real, fine. Then, encountering gorgeous Max, an astronaut, on her novel’s publication day? Was this really happening?
This may seem a bit romcom: there’s plenty of humour, and a good dose of romance; but it goes much deeper than that, exploring grief and guilt, control, friendship and loyalty, and there are a couple of jaw-dropping betrayals that take the plot where few readers could predict. Thought-provoking and moving, but ultimately, a heart-warming happily ever after.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing
Eighteen months earlier, her writing career was on hold. She was working in her in-laws’ ad agency, raising three-and-a-half-year-old Lucy, and still trying to overcome the sudden loss of her husband Sam four years earlier. Sam’s death mimicked that of protagonist in the novel she had just published.
She couldn’t let her agent sell her new manuscript because it centred on a kidnapped child, and her superstition that life was imitating art, that what she wrote would become reality, made her afraid for her child. It wasn’t the first time something she’d written had come true, or so she believed.
But her agent gave her a deadline: submit something soon, or they were done. So Mars a far cry from her previous book, for good reason. An astronaut who was lost in space, returning to his waiting wife: if this turned real, fine. Then, encountering gorgeous Max, an astronaut, on her novel’s publication day? Was this really happening?
This may seem a bit romcom: there’s plenty of humour, and a good dose of romance; but it goes much deeper than that, exploring grief and guilt, control, friendship and loyalty, and there are a couple of jaw-dropping betrayals that take the plot where few readers could predict. Thought-provoking and moving, but ultimately, a heart-warming happily ever after.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing
July 13, 2025
I loved the premise of this book: a widowed writer who believes her words come true and blames herself for her husband’s death, which mirrors the fate of her novel’s protagonist. Her fear of causing more tragedy through her writing leaves her too scared to continue, and she's unable to move on from her grief.
The story moves along at a good pace and includes enough twists and turns to keep me interested. I was ready to give this 4 stars, but unfortunately, the ending felt rushed and unbelieveable.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The story moves along at a good pace and includes enough twists and turns to keep me interested. I was ready to give this 4 stars, but unfortunately, the ending felt rushed and unbelieveable.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 11, 2025
Felt like reading a high school paper
This book felt like a high school student who had an essay due on Monday morning and started writing at 10pm on Sunday. Next… then next I did this… next I did this…. And the big conflict she had with her inlaws was suppose to be dramatic but just fell flat.
This book felt like a high school student who had an essay due on Monday morning and started writing at 10pm on Sunday. Next… then next I did this… next I did this…. And the big conflict she had with her inlaws was suppose to be dramatic but just fell flat.
Read
November 13, 2025Did not finish, the writing style did not capture my attention. The language and “sex pics” references not to my liking. I skipped to the last two chapters to try and fill in the story. I just could not get into it.
May 25, 2026
Thea is a writer whose first novel is a major hit - but it turns out to be a little TOO on the nose when her own husband dies in an accident exactly like the one she put in her book. Four years later, she hasn’t written anything else, scared that her words have the power to come true. But when her editor demands something, she decides there’s no harm in writing a feel-good rom com, and pens a novel about an astronaut who comes back to his family after being lost in space. Maybe if it comes true, her dead husband will find a way to come back to her? But then she meets a hot guy at a dog park who is… an astronaut. I really loved this novel, even if Thea drove me a bit nuts at times, and found it hard to put it into any one genre particularly as I wasn’t sure where the plot was going to go. It kept me guessing, while also being a heartwarming story about a family dealing with grief. I finished it in just two days after I couldn’t stop thinking about it; highly recommend!
February 8, 2026
My first five star book of the year! What a beautiful story of grief and love and everything in between. I got this book as an Amazon First Read and thought it sounded interesting, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I love books that have elements of magical realism and this book strikes such an interesting chord between magical and realism both. Every character felt like someone I wanted to root for in some capacity and their shared trauma bonded them or, sometimes, broke them. I would say this is in the vein of Ashley Poston meets Abby Jimenez type writing. Really enjoyed this one and would love to read more by this author in the future. Thank you to Amazon First Reads for the advance reader copy.
February 2, 2026
I struggled through a lot of this but I wanted to know what happened in the end and when the plot twist came at 75% I was questioning what else could possibly happen.
While sorting out her grief and getting to the bottom of all her shit was a satisfying part of the story… the ending was complete bullshit and it made me mad that I stuck around.
While sorting out her grief and getting to the bottom of all her shit was a satisfying part of the story… the ending was complete bullshit and it made me mad that I stuck around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2025
This was fantastic! The story had me hooked from the very beginning, with charming, loveable characters, an intriguing story, and writing that flows so well that you can’t help but get swept up in the whole thing. Thea’s story is so moving, and I enjoyed following along as she processed her grief and started to live again. Highly recommended!
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #BrilliancePublishing for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #BrilliancePublishing for an honest review.
May 13, 2026
While it was definitely an interesting premise, it did start dragging a little toward the end. I like the writing though. Very interesting story, however, and I’d be interested to read more from the authors.
July 8, 2026
Feel good light read. Perfect for summer!
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