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River of Stars
A stunning new novel exploring the lives and secrets of a group of residents of an island in the Thames
Walnut Tree Island is home to artists, dreamers, lovers and heartbreakers. Life is different slow, languorous and always communal, with every evening offering a new opportunity to gather at a neighbour's houseboat over a glass of wine.
But when a former resident reappears after nearly two decades away, the islanders are thrown into a frenzy as they wonder what plans their new landlord has in store for them.
And for Jo, an artist who long ago lost her muse, his return reopens the wounds of a love she thought was gone forever…
Walnut Tree Island is home to artists, dreamers, lovers and heartbreakers. Life is different slow, languorous and always communal, with every evening offering a new opportunity to gather at a neighbour's houseboat over a glass of wine.
But when a former resident reappears after nearly two decades away, the islanders are thrown into a frenzy as they wonder what plans their new landlord has in store for them.
And for Jo, an artist who long ago lost her muse, his return reopens the wounds of a love she thought was gone forever…
352 pages, Hardcover
Published July 3, 2025
37 people are currently reading
1557 people want to read
About the author
Georgina Moore
5 books86 followersGeorgina Moore grew up in London and lives on a houseboat on the River Thames with her partner, two children and Bomber, the Border Terrier. The Garnett Girls is her first novel and is set on the Isle of Wight, where Georgina and her family have a holiday houseboat called Sturdy. Georgina's second novel River of Stars is out on 3rd July and is inspired by Georgina's life on the river but also by the musical heritage and artistic community of an island upstream from her called Eel Pie Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
May 30, 2025
3.5 rounded up
This is a love letter to Eel Pie Island, here it’s the fictional Walnut Tree Island, as well as as to the River Thames, by the best selling author of The Garnett Girls. It’s a lovely story, set in the 1960s through the eyes of teenager Mary Star and in the present day by her granddaughter, Jo. In the 1960s Mary goes to Walnut Tree Island for the music scene at its iconic venue, Treeland, owned and run by George Greenwood. This would change Mary’s life. In the present day, Mary and Jo’s life on the island, in the cottage they have long called home, is seriously under threat when George’s grandson, the devilishly handsome Oliver, wants to sell the island, inevitably impacting its residents and the owners of houseboats. What will the future hold? Many of them are in fear of their previous way of life changing and not necessarily for the better.
The lovely cover really encapsulates the contents and the stunning setting which is absolutely terrific. Walnut Tree Island is a character in its own right and this and the river carries the book in my opinion. I love the strong sense of community on the island especially when their way of life appears to be under threat and of course, there’s the added attraction of the “romance” of living on a houseboat. In addition, from the 1960s, there’s the lure of Treeland and the music scene and art in the later timeline.
Like The Garnett Girls this novel is character driven and is quite the saga spanning several decades. Many of the characters are likeable, especially Mary and Jo and their strong bond is a wonderful element in the book. Some characters however, feel a bit self-centred and are clearly less likable although it’s good to have a mixture because it makes it more real. The dynamics are interesting especially between the Greenwood and Star families, then and now, and this fluctuates and changes throughout the three generations. Their interactions and connections define both the past and the present with plenty of animosity in the present day.
Despite the wonderful setting and some lovely characters, it’s a bit too long for me and gets somewhat convoluted and so it doesn’t grab me in quite the same way as the authors previous book. Having said that, the atmospheric setting is sufficient for me to raise the book to 4 stars and I reckon this is a perfect holiday read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
*Eel Pie Island is located in the Thames near Twickenham and is known for its Bohemian spirit. In the 1960s, it was indeed a music venue with bands like The Rolling Stones and individuals like Eric Clapton appearing there at the Eel Pie Island Hotel which closed in 1967.
This is a love letter to Eel Pie Island, here it’s the fictional Walnut Tree Island, as well as as to the River Thames, by the best selling author of The Garnett Girls. It’s a lovely story, set in the 1960s through the eyes of teenager Mary Star and in the present day by her granddaughter, Jo. In the 1960s Mary goes to Walnut Tree Island for the music scene at its iconic venue, Treeland, owned and run by George Greenwood. This would change Mary’s life. In the present day, Mary and Jo’s life on the island, in the cottage they have long called home, is seriously under threat when George’s grandson, the devilishly handsome Oliver, wants to sell the island, inevitably impacting its residents and the owners of houseboats. What will the future hold? Many of them are in fear of their previous way of life changing and not necessarily for the better.
The lovely cover really encapsulates the contents and the stunning setting which is absolutely terrific. Walnut Tree Island is a character in its own right and this and the river carries the book in my opinion. I love the strong sense of community on the island especially when their way of life appears to be under threat and of course, there’s the added attraction of the “romance” of living on a houseboat. In addition, from the 1960s, there’s the lure of Treeland and the music scene and art in the later timeline.
Like The Garnett Girls this novel is character driven and is quite the saga spanning several decades. Many of the characters are likeable, especially Mary and Jo and their strong bond is a wonderful element in the book. Some characters however, feel a bit self-centred and are clearly less likable although it’s good to have a mixture because it makes it more real. The dynamics are interesting especially between the Greenwood and Star families, then and now, and this fluctuates and changes throughout the three generations. Their interactions and connections define both the past and the present with plenty of animosity in the present day.
Despite the wonderful setting and some lovely characters, it’s a bit too long for me and gets somewhat convoluted and so it doesn’t grab me in quite the same way as the authors previous book. Having said that, the atmospheric setting is sufficient for me to raise the book to 4 stars and I reckon this is a perfect holiday read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
*Eel Pie Island is located in the Thames near Twickenham and is known for its Bohemian spirit. In the 1960s, it was indeed a music venue with bands like The Rolling Stones and individuals like Eric Clapton appearing there at the Eel Pie Island Hotel which closed in 1967.
July 12, 2025
I really enjoyed The Garnett Girls and this is another good family saga, set on a small island on the Thames, which is a whole character in itself. It has a bit of everything - setting, romance, and a whole lot of drama.
When Oliver Greenwood, now the owner of the island after the death of his father, returns to the island for the first time in years, the islanders are fearful for their future. Will Oliver want to sell it to the highest bidder to allow for redevelopment, or will he allow the long term islanders to remain?
The setting and small island community life is well described and you can sense how the inhabitants would feel about the loss of their homes. There are many underlying themes running through the book, including grief, losing out on love, and I was very happy to see the inclusion of women who don't want children.
I did have a small niggle with how it ended, which is a hugely personal preference, and in all likelihood most people will not even question it. Overall, another great summer read from Georgina Moore.
When Oliver Greenwood, now the owner of the island after the death of his father, returns to the island for the first time in years, the islanders are fearful for their future. Will Oliver want to sell it to the highest bidder to allow for redevelopment, or will he allow the long term islanders to remain?
The setting and small island community life is well described and you can sense how the inhabitants would feel about the loss of their homes. There are many underlying themes running through the book, including grief, losing out on love, and I was very happy to see the inclusion of women who don't want children.
I did have a small niggle with how it ended, which is a hugely personal preference, and in all likelihood most people will not even question it. Overall, another great summer read from Georgina Moore.
June 20, 2025
Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
I do try not to rate below 3* but after absolutely loving The Garnett Girls I did feel disappointed with Georgina Moore’s second novel. I certainly loved the Walnut Tree (Eel Pie) Island setting & the bohemian atmosphere depicted & the premise for this book was strong. Mary Star as family matriarch was likeable and believable. However, for me there were just too many extraneous characters, repetitive & slightly muddled storylines & numerous unfinished side plots. The further I got with it the come confusing it became. I also felt like there was no main plot to follow other than what will become of the island. The main characters are highly flawed & not very likeable & therefore hard to champion. With regret, it’s a 2.5 for me.
I do try not to rate below 3* but after absolutely loving The Garnett Girls I did feel disappointed with Georgina Moore’s second novel. I certainly loved the Walnut Tree (Eel Pie) Island setting & the bohemian atmosphere depicted & the premise for this book was strong. Mary Star as family matriarch was likeable and believable. However, for me there were just too many extraneous characters, repetitive & slightly muddled storylines & numerous unfinished side plots. The further I got with it the come confusing it became. I also felt like there was no main plot to follow other than what will become of the island. The main characters are highly flawed & not very likeable & therefore hard to champion. With regret, it’s a 2.5 for me.
June 16, 2025
River of Stars starts with the story of Mary, a teenage girl with a burgeoning singing talent and a rebellious spirit that draws her to the musicians and life on Walnut Tree Island, a place loosely based on the real Eel Pie Island where 1960s bands gathered to play to youngsters like Mary. The book then switches between Mary's life and that of her granddaughter Jo, an ex-artist, both living on the island.
I really liked Georgina Moore's debut novel The Garnett Girls, so I was looking forward to delving into this, her second novel. However, I was ultimately disappointed with River of Stars. I found it slightly clichéd and predictable with some quite unlikeable protagonists
Jo is, quite frankly, a pain in the arse who despite supposedly having self-worth issues seems to be completely in love with herself and is totally oblivious to anyone apart from her grandmother, Mary. Oliver is not really a rounded character. I think I preferred his wife, Emanuelle, who only appears very briefly in the novel and had more about her in those couple of pages than he did in the entire book.
I found Mary's history more interesting than Jo's story. I also wish we had heard more of Ruby and Golibe. However, I liked Sophie the most. She seemed to have the most interesting character but was only really used a foil for the others. Her own story was cast aside in favour of Jo and Oliver's. Sophie never gets to work out her friendship issues with Jo and is treated badly by everyone else with only a bit of a tagged-on, half-hearted epilogue for her, while everyone else seems to live happily ever after.
Also, everyone seems to be obsessed with the Island. It's like there's nothing else out there, never mind the rest of London or great wide world beyond. It's highly unlikely a community could be so insular and unaware of anything else. Does no one else have jobs outside of the island? How do they all make their money? They all just seem to waft around being artistic and/or annoying and getting drunk. I suppose this is what's known as being "bohemian"?
Sorry, this one was not for me, I'm afraid. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
I really liked Georgina Moore's debut novel The Garnett Girls, so I was looking forward to delving into this, her second novel. However, I was ultimately disappointed with River of Stars. I found it slightly clichéd and predictable with some quite unlikeable protagonists
Jo is, quite frankly, a pain in the arse who despite supposedly having self-worth issues seems to be completely in love with herself and is totally oblivious to anyone apart from her grandmother, Mary. Oliver is not really a rounded character. I think I preferred his wife, Emanuelle, who only appears very briefly in the novel and had more about her in those couple of pages than he did in the entire book.
I found Mary's history more interesting than Jo's story. I also wish we had heard more of Ruby and Golibe. However, I liked Sophie the most. She seemed to have the most interesting character but was only really used a foil for the others. Her own story was cast aside in favour of Jo and Oliver's. Sophie never gets to work out her friendship issues with Jo and is treated badly by everyone else with only a bit of a tagged-on, half-hearted epilogue for her, while everyone else seems to live happily ever after.
Also, everyone seems to be obsessed with the Island. It's like there's nothing else out there, never mind the rest of London or great wide world beyond. It's highly unlikely a community could be so insular and unaware of anything else. Does no one else have jobs outside of the island? How do they all make their money? They all just seem to waft around being artistic and/or annoying and getting drunk. I suppose this is what's known as being "bohemian"?
Sorry, this one was not for me, I'm afraid. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
May 3, 2025
I so wanted to like this, having heard great things about The Garnett Girls. And the title is just so dreamily romantic.
In this novel, through a dual timeline, the reader is taken to the fictional Walnut Tree Island in the Thames, based on the real Eel Pie Island. In the past, 17-year-old Mary has a passionate relationship with an up-and-coming rock star and becomes pregnant. In the present, Mary is now an old woman and her granddaughter, Jo, is the key driver, an artist riddled with self-doubt and obstinacy.
When the new owner, the dishy Oliver, returns to the island following the death of his father, what will happen to Walnut Tree and its assorted residents?
I thought the setting was fabulous and such a great premise for a novel, but the sum of its parts did not make for a satisfactory read.
I found the main characters self-absorbed, privileged, shallow and selfish, their worlds fuelled by alcohol and hedonism . As protagonists, they had no redeeming features and I didn't care enough about them to be much interested in what was going to happen, although it was obvious at the outset where the story was heading.
I thought some of the peripheral characters and settings, such as Dave and the boatyard, and Golibe and his connection to place, could have been developed more to give the novel more depth and nuance.
Sorry, but this novel was not for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of River of Stars.
In this novel, through a dual timeline, the reader is taken to the fictional Walnut Tree Island in the Thames, based on the real Eel Pie Island. In the past, 17-year-old Mary has a passionate relationship with an up-and-coming rock star and becomes pregnant. In the present, Mary is now an old woman and her granddaughter, Jo, is the key driver, an artist riddled with self-doubt and obstinacy.
When the new owner, the dishy Oliver, returns to the island following the death of his father, what will happen to Walnut Tree and its assorted residents?
I thought the setting was fabulous and such a great premise for a novel, but the sum of its parts did not make for a satisfactory read.
I found the main characters self-absorbed, privileged, shallow and selfish, their worlds fuelled by alcohol and hedonism . As protagonists, they had no redeeming features and I didn't care enough about them to be much interested in what was going to happen, although it was obvious at the outset where the story was heading.
I thought some of the peripheral characters and settings, such as Dave and the boatyard, and Golibe and his connection to place, could have been developed more to give the novel more depth and nuance.
Sorry, but this novel was not for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of River of Stars.
April 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this sweet story set in the 1960's and present day. The story was set in beautiful Scotland among the wild seas and I loved how the story unfolded. Considering I wasn't that impressed with the Garnett Girls this latest one blew me away. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 4, 2025
This is the first Georgina Moore book that I’ve read and I was swept away by this entertaining and engaging story.
The story begins in 1964 where the Star and Greenwood families become inextricably linked through time on Thames Walnut Island.
Mary Star is 16 and enjoying the hedonistic culture of the 60’s to the max, mixing with her friends and the bands that come to play at the famous island venue, Treeland. George Greenwood, hotelier and owner of Treeland, becomes a father figure to Mary and takes her under his wing when she needs it most.
Fast forward to the present day and we meet Mary again, now an elderly woman, still living on the island, alongside her strong willed and fiercely independent granddaughter, Jo Star. Jo was brought up by Mary on the island and is working tirelessly to preserve their way of life there when this is under serious threat.
Other notable characters in the book are handsome business man, Oliver Greenwood, grandson of George. He comes back to the island years after leaving with ideas that could be deemed as extremely controversial.
Dave is a life long island resident and has recently brought his new theatre PR wife Sophie to live there but maybe she prefers the bright lights of the West End to sedate island life?
This is a story about community, betrayal, love and loss and how mistakes made in previous generations can and do reverberate through time.
I really enjoyed reading this seductive book where the island is the focal
point. The author’s gorgeous descriptions of the island and obvious knowledge of river life, and its flora and fauna, sings on every page.
Thank you to hqstories and netgalley for sending me this digital copy for my honest review.
The story begins in 1964 where the Star and Greenwood families become inextricably linked through time on Thames Walnut Island.
Mary Star is 16 and enjoying the hedonistic culture of the 60’s to the max, mixing with her friends and the bands that come to play at the famous island venue, Treeland. George Greenwood, hotelier and owner of Treeland, becomes a father figure to Mary and takes her under his wing when she needs it most.
Fast forward to the present day and we meet Mary again, now an elderly woman, still living on the island, alongside her strong willed and fiercely independent granddaughter, Jo Star. Jo was brought up by Mary on the island and is working tirelessly to preserve their way of life there when this is under serious threat.
Other notable characters in the book are handsome business man, Oliver Greenwood, grandson of George. He comes back to the island years after leaving with ideas that could be deemed as extremely controversial.
Dave is a life long island resident and has recently brought his new theatre PR wife Sophie to live there but maybe she prefers the bright lights of the West End to sedate island life?
This is a story about community, betrayal, love and loss and how mistakes made in previous generations can and do reverberate through time.
I really enjoyed reading this seductive book where the island is the focal
point. The author’s gorgeous descriptions of the island and obvious knowledge of river life, and its flora and fauna, sings on every page.
Thank you to hqstories and netgalley for sending me this digital copy for my honest review.
July 14, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I loved this story and was completely drawn into the world of Walnut Island. The setting was so vividly described that I could easily picture the different areas, especially the artist studios and The Willows. It offered such a charming and immersive look at island life—it felt idyllic in so many ways. I also really enjoyed the love story which felt very realistic, particularly because the main character is in her 40s. It’s so refreshing to see romance explored at that stage of life—proof that love isn’t just for the young!
I loved this story and was completely drawn into the world of Walnut Island. The setting was so vividly described that I could easily picture the different areas, especially the artist studios and The Willows. It offered such a charming and immersive look at island life—it felt idyllic in so many ways. I also really enjoyed the love story which felt very realistic, particularly because the main character is in her 40s. It’s so refreshing to see romance explored at that stage of life—proof that love isn’t just for the young!
July 3, 2025
I was captivated by this beautiful story.
River of Stars is set on the fictional Walnut Tree Island, it has a history of musical legends and a community of artists.
The story is told across multiple timelines, starting in the 1960’s where we meet Mary Star and George Greenwood. Mary finds herself pregnant by musical star Ossie, who is about to go on tour. George (landlord) looks out for Mary, offering her work, safety and accommodation on the island.
We arrive in the present, where Mary and granddaughter Jo still live on the island. However, Oliver, George’s grandson is now the landlord and there is speculation he wants to sell…
The story is just beautiful. There is a real sense of community on the island. I loved how close knit the islanders were. I also enjoyed seeing how the story unfolded. There was a clear history between the Stars and the Greenwood’s, that over time had become twisted.
I loved seeing Jo change as the story unfolded. Rediscovering her love of painting, and taking chances, and finding love.
The pace of the story is quite slow, but it fits with the story and I just didn’t want it to end!
Thank you so much to the author, HQ publishers and Netgalley for the advanced read. Opinions expressed here are my own.
River of Stars is set on the fictional Walnut Tree Island, it has a history of musical legends and a community of artists.
The story is told across multiple timelines, starting in the 1960’s where we meet Mary Star and George Greenwood. Mary finds herself pregnant by musical star Ossie, who is about to go on tour. George (landlord) looks out for Mary, offering her work, safety and accommodation on the island.
We arrive in the present, where Mary and granddaughter Jo still live on the island. However, Oliver, George’s grandson is now the landlord and there is speculation he wants to sell…
The story is just beautiful. There is a real sense of community on the island. I loved how close knit the islanders were. I also enjoyed seeing how the story unfolded. There was a clear history between the Stars and the Greenwood’s, that over time had become twisted.
I loved seeing Jo change as the story unfolded. Rediscovering her love of painting, and taking chances, and finding love.
The pace of the story is quite slow, but it fits with the story and I just didn’t want it to end!
Thank you so much to the author, HQ publishers and Netgalley for the advanced read. Opinions expressed here are my own.
June 15, 2025
A very lovely book, I loved the history of the island vs the present day stories. Lots of character development and complex relationships!
September 2, 2025
I loved this book - I wanted to find out how it ended, but didn’t want to finish reading it! A lovely setting and a bittersweet story and so well written.
July 3, 2025
This was a fantastic read that I enjoyed immensely. Moore’s debut novel caught my attention and I saw it everywhere when it was released. Despite not having (yet!) read it, this second book from Moore makes me think that this will be just as good a success.
Moore’s storytelling and writing style reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid. With the lazy summer, the rich descriptions and the artistry referenced, this is a drama that spans the decades, inspired by the real Eel Pie Island that was frequented by rock ‘n’ roll gods, artists and, quite simply, provided the escape from the toils of city life.
Spanning decades, this book explores the history of Walnut Tree Island through Mary and her granddaughter. Both are residents on Walnut Tree Island but the new owner of the island, landlord Oliver, has stirred the locals, fearing that they are going to be moved on from their beloved home. Oliver’s grandfather, Mary’s rescuer, was at the heart of the community back in the sixties but this did not transpire over the generations. Today, Mary is one of the few originals from Walnut Tree Island’s hey day, and with her, her fiercely protective granddaughter. Jo will do anything to protect the island, even if she does have a history with Oliver.
I loved how the story moved from past to present. We don’t learn too much about Mary’s history but this helps provide insight into the current timeline. Readers learn about the island’s glory days and how this evolved over the years. Presently, Jo is portrayed as lost in life; her close friend has just married and Jo feels like the world has moved on without her. Having turned her back on her own art, Jo is floundering in life, with just the island to defend. Yet, Oliver’s return provokes memories she thought she had long since buried, leading Jo to question exactly what she wants to do with her future.
I sympathised with Jo, especially as more of Mary’s history is revealed. Furthermore, I don’t think Sophie is a particularly good friend to Jo and I felt that Sophie’s fate was justified. I loved the heady atmosphere that Moore vividly creates on the island and, regardless of the time period, it feels like life really does stop here. There is definite escapism which I certainly found when reading the book.
This drama with historical twists was a delight to read. The three generations of the Star family are all linked by the island. Whereas Mary is firmly rooted in it, her daughter was desperate to leave and Jo is like a culmination of both generations. Indeed, the cyclical nature of the plot meant that the ending was like the island going through its own cycles, and I finished the book feeling full of content, despite the poignant implications about Mary.
Although I haven’t read Moore’s first book, this read has certainly inspired me to do so in the near future! This was a great story and I was captured by it from the first scenes of music and love in the sixties. The island represents love, artistry and freedom and it is interesting to see how the three generations of Star women respond to this.
With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Moore’s storytelling and writing style reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid. With the lazy summer, the rich descriptions and the artistry referenced, this is a drama that spans the decades, inspired by the real Eel Pie Island that was frequented by rock ‘n’ roll gods, artists and, quite simply, provided the escape from the toils of city life.
Spanning decades, this book explores the history of Walnut Tree Island through Mary and her granddaughter. Both are residents on Walnut Tree Island but the new owner of the island, landlord Oliver, has stirred the locals, fearing that they are going to be moved on from their beloved home. Oliver’s grandfather, Mary’s rescuer, was at the heart of the community back in the sixties but this did not transpire over the generations. Today, Mary is one of the few originals from Walnut Tree Island’s hey day, and with her, her fiercely protective granddaughter. Jo will do anything to protect the island, even if she does have a history with Oliver.
I loved how the story moved from past to present. We don’t learn too much about Mary’s history but this helps provide insight into the current timeline. Readers learn about the island’s glory days and how this evolved over the years. Presently, Jo is portrayed as lost in life; her close friend has just married and Jo feels like the world has moved on without her. Having turned her back on her own art, Jo is floundering in life, with just the island to defend. Yet, Oliver’s return provokes memories she thought she had long since buried, leading Jo to question exactly what she wants to do with her future.
I sympathised with Jo, especially as more of Mary’s history is revealed. Furthermore, I don’t think Sophie is a particularly good friend to Jo and I felt that Sophie’s fate was justified. I loved the heady atmosphere that Moore vividly creates on the island and, regardless of the time period, it feels like life really does stop here. There is definite escapism which I certainly found when reading the book.
This drama with historical twists was a delight to read. The three generations of the Star family are all linked by the island. Whereas Mary is firmly rooted in it, her daughter was desperate to leave and Jo is like a culmination of both generations. Indeed, the cyclical nature of the plot meant that the ending was like the island going through its own cycles, and I finished the book feeling full of content, despite the poignant implications about Mary.
Although I haven’t read Moore’s first book, this read has certainly inspired me to do so in the near future! This was a great story and I was captured by it from the first scenes of music and love in the sixties. The island represents love, artistry and freedom and it is interesting to see how the three generations of Star women respond to this.
With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2025
Life for all on Walnut Tree Island is about to change.
Oh yes. This. This is exactly my kind of read. River of Stars is an absolute triumph and I adored it.
I’m not usually a great fan of dual timelines, but the history surrounding the past on the island, Mary’s youth and Jo’s present simply could not work without both eras being presented so effectively and so affectingly. The desperate sadness of how we are controlled by others, how easy it is to lose sight of ourselves and our dreams, and how the past ripples through the years to shape and mould our present is depicted achingly beautifully. I was deeply moved as well as entertained by River of Stars.
The quality of Georgina Moore’s prose is stunning. It’s intense, beautifully written and steeped with longing, passion and emotion. Descriptions thrum with clarity and realism and yet create a magical, almost dreamlike texture, that underpins the story. The sense of place is intoxicating, putting the reader so firmly at the heart of Walnut Tree Island it is as if they are living there amongst the other inhabitants.
I thought Jo was a fantastic character. She is arrogant, bossy and confrontational whilst equally being vulnerable, broken and, despite her partying and popularity, essentially lonely, so that she is relatable for any reader. Her relationship with Oliver feels authentic and simultaneously desperately sad and yet imbued with uplifting possibility. Their deep connection feels as if it is possibly one of the most romantic relationships I’ve read, despite their years apart and their seeming animosity.
What works so well in River of Stars is the underlying truth of flawed humanity. It feels like a narrative written by an author who understands the very essence of who we are. There are no cliched or idealised people here, but rather real individuals who make mistakes and face the challenges of life in their own unique ways. Walnut Tree Island is a microcosm of the wider world.
And it is those challenges the characters face that make River of Stars so mesmerising and compelling. Georgina Moore looks at how we are shaped by our past, how family and duty impact our lives, and how we can lose sight of what really matters. Jo’s abandonment of her painting following her experiences in Florence, for example, made me yearn for life to improve for her.
I thought River of Stars was simply glorious. It explores all facets of family, community and love to perfection. Personal reasons meant I have been unable to read recently, but this superb, sensitive and enthralling narrative drew me in completely and restored my joy in reading. It’s one of my books of the year.
Oh yes. This. This is exactly my kind of read. River of Stars is an absolute triumph and I adored it.
I’m not usually a great fan of dual timelines, but the history surrounding the past on the island, Mary’s youth and Jo’s present simply could not work without both eras being presented so effectively and so affectingly. The desperate sadness of how we are controlled by others, how easy it is to lose sight of ourselves and our dreams, and how the past ripples through the years to shape and mould our present is depicted achingly beautifully. I was deeply moved as well as entertained by River of Stars.
The quality of Georgina Moore’s prose is stunning. It’s intense, beautifully written and steeped with longing, passion and emotion. Descriptions thrum with clarity and realism and yet create a magical, almost dreamlike texture, that underpins the story. The sense of place is intoxicating, putting the reader so firmly at the heart of Walnut Tree Island it is as if they are living there amongst the other inhabitants.
I thought Jo was a fantastic character. She is arrogant, bossy and confrontational whilst equally being vulnerable, broken and, despite her partying and popularity, essentially lonely, so that she is relatable for any reader. Her relationship with Oliver feels authentic and simultaneously desperately sad and yet imbued with uplifting possibility. Their deep connection feels as if it is possibly one of the most romantic relationships I’ve read, despite their years apart and their seeming animosity.
What works so well in River of Stars is the underlying truth of flawed humanity. It feels like a narrative written by an author who understands the very essence of who we are. There are no cliched or idealised people here, but rather real individuals who make mistakes and face the challenges of life in their own unique ways. Walnut Tree Island is a microcosm of the wider world.
And it is those challenges the characters face that make River of Stars so mesmerising and compelling. Georgina Moore looks at how we are shaped by our past, how family and duty impact our lives, and how we can lose sight of what really matters. Jo’s abandonment of her painting following her experiences in Florence, for example, made me yearn for life to improve for her.
I thought River of Stars was simply glorious. It explores all facets of family, community and love to perfection. Personal reasons meant I have been unable to read recently, but this superb, sensitive and enthralling narrative drew me in completely and restored my joy in reading. It’s one of my books of the year.
June 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for access to this ARC 📚.
🔥Quick Fire Review🔥
Genre/Themes: ⛴️🛶🎨🌻🏴🎸🎤🏡
Tropes: Orphan, Not Like the Other Girls, All Grown Up, Love/Hate Relationship, The One That Got Away, Reunion Romance, Second Chance Romance, Can’t Spit It Out, Everyone Can See It, Accidental Pregnancy, Marriage in Trouble, One Night Stand, Misunderstanding, Set in a Closed Community
Positives: quirky and interesting setting, romance plot about protagonists aged 30-40+ which is a rarity!
Room for Improvement 🔎 : unlikeable characters, romances felt very lacklustre, flashback scenes underutilised, sub-plots that added little to the story with missed opportunities, several typos
Rating: 🌕🌕🌖
✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑
I was really looking forward to this based on the reviews and ratings but sadly I just struggled to enjoy it. I think this was largely down to the fact that I didn’t find any of the characters relatable in the slightest, with the majority of them being privileged middle-aged people living on a private island on the Thames able to make their living from art alone. This privilege made them all act like impulsive, immature teenagers. The nostalgic elements weren’t enough to raise the stakes of the plot and I found myself skimming the second half waiting to reach the conclusion, which in the end was disappointingly anti-climatic anyway.
Characterisation:
Jo was the most interesting, nuanced character of the book. She started out as a feminist icon to be honest. A 40-something singleton, a party animal doing shots most nights then having casual sex, getting annoyed at people’s hypocrisy over her drunken antics versus her male counterparts doing the exact same things. From a child she had been seen as the ‘leader’ on the island amongst her peers. She was a loud, assertive, self-proclaimed ‘tomboy’. She was basically written to throw out the idea of female stereotypes and traditional ideas about femininity. But then it turns out she gave up her art career because a male teacher-turned-lover in Florence told her she wasn’t good enough. She’d actually been single all this time because she’d never gotten over the guy she knew as a teenager, not because she enjoyed the single life. In fact as soon as they got back together, she got pregnant and engaged. So to be honest I felt like the message of her character was ‘people who act like they don’t want a traditional female life are lying’. That was a bummer. I also found her very hypocritical. The aggression she showed over her neighbours buddying up with her ‘enemy’, the anger she showed towards Oliver for ‘betraying her’ suggested that loyalty and honesty were very important to her… but then she just completely overlooked the fact that her best friend CHEATED ON HER HUSBAND WITH THE GUY SHE WAS STILL IN LOVE WITH? In fact she HELPED HER COVER IT UP? What on earth was that? And why did she find it so easy to overlook that the guy she ends up with also fucked her best friend and another of her neighbours, all in the space of a few weeks while he was still married to a woman in America? Apparently she likes to pick and choose when loyalty and honesty are her values. Her ‘redemption’ arc of going to Florence and officially deciding she wants to paint again was also disappointing, because she basically only decided to let go of her exes’ opinion when she saw him again and felt he’d turned ugly? Apparently letting an attractive guy change the course of your life is fine but if they’re ugly you can let it go… So I can’t help but feel that Jo’s happiness was too reliant on men. I get that she had abandonment issues, after her mum leaving her as a toddler and having an absentee dad. Oliver leaving without a trace just added to these issues and she was desperate for validation. But get some therapy, girl. She was also aggravatingly immature, too. She never once let Oliver explain himself, instead having constant digs at him and starting arguments. The book could have been over in a couple of chapters if she’d actually just let him talk. So all in all she felt like a 40-something year old stuck at the mental age of a teenager because she didn’t have any reliant male figures in her life.
Oliver was such a boring love interest. I honestly didn’t understand everyone’s fascination with him other than being tall, attractive and rich. He was an anxious avoidant type with serious daddy issues. He would escalate fights with Jo then storm out, and he’d only come back to the island to escape his failing marriage under the guise of ridding himself of it. He shagged two women in the space of a few weeks because he was so in love with Jo and wanted to get back at her. What a catch! And his excuses about never coming back to Jo were so pathetic. ‘My dad made me do this’, ‘my dad told me that’. You are in your FORTIES AND RICH. Get over yourself. His mum dying on the island would have been a more understandable reason, but even that he blames on his dad and his neglect of his family so that was a shit excuse as well. The build up of their relationship was so lacklustre to me. The turning point was supposed to be the Christmas they spent together, but the fun they apparently had was so glossed over it felt like there was next to no development of their romance at all. When they finally got together I felt nothing. Yay, two immature and emotionally stunted individuals got back together after not sorting themselves out over the past twenty years! Yippee!
Mary was Jo’s grandmother and the matriarchal figure of the island. She was a nice old lady and unfortunately developing Alzheimer’s. She was guilty of coddling Jo, feeling responsible for the death of Jo’s mother because she didn’t follow her lover Ossie to LA to keep the family unit together. This coddling resulted in an unexplainable distance between her and Jo because they had never properly discussed Ruby leaving, even after all this time. Mary seemed unable to open her heart fully to men after Ossie, hence why her and Golibe break up even after 20 years. I found it sad that, like Jo, Mary holds herself back from love because she cannot let go of the past. I cannot help but feel Mary took advantage of Golibe and his kindness. It felt like a lot of take and not an awful lot of give. She was also accused of this with George, Oliver’s grandfather, who gave her the house and looked after her and Ruby. She did try and help earn her keep by working at the hotel and working multiple jobs as a single mother/grandmother, but I felt she knew damn well that George was in love with her but was afraid to officially tell him nothing was ever going to happen between them in case she lost his support. That’s George’s fault for exerting power over her through money, and trying to buy her affection, but I felt there was no reason for her to do the same to Golibe.
Sophie enraged me in this book. I felt she was an absolutely pointless character and was just there as plot fodder. As a friend she seemed to be the jealous and semi-resentful type towards Jo, more of a frenemy than a genuine friend. She goes for Oliver the moment he arrives, even though she knows about Jo’s issues with him. Oh, and that whole BEING MARRIED THING. A marriage she makes very clear throughout that she feels was the result of rebounding. SHE LIES ABOUT BEING ON THE PILL! Instead of being honest with her husband that she doesn’t want children. She spends the whole story trying to get her husband off the island and escaping to London, where her work was and where she truly wanted to be. She literally had no redeeming qualities, she was the worst. So we had Jo, who lived a non-traditional life that honestly sounded awesome but actually desperately craved a traditional one. Then we had Sophie who lived that traditional life but didn’t want it, and decided the only way she could go about it was by being a deceitful betrayer. What lovely messages about womanhood this book depicted.
Side characters were hit and miss. Dave, Sophie’s husband, was a pushy, manipulative busybody seemingly incapable of compromise. No, I don’t believe Sophie was right to lie about trying for a baby with him, and I don’t think he deserved ending up in a marriage doomed to fail. But the guy wouldn’t even get off the island to take his new wife on a honeymoon. He didn’t even recognise his wife’s discomfort when they talked about children. So, he was a total dick too.
Golibe was great but so underutilised. He was the one realist in Mary’s life, telling her straight that her granddaughter and her coddling of her was a problem and the reason they broke up. But Golibe was an African man moving to a closed white community in the 60s. Where was his story? So much could have been done with that. Their relationship of 20 years is completely glossed over, just showing how Mary seemed completely indifferent towards it in comparison to Ossie in the 60s. I’m glad Golibe found someone new because Mary didn’t deserve him, to be honest.
We only meet Ruby in flashbacks, but I felt she was a reckless coward if I’m being blunt. Want to travel the world and find fame? Don’t want to be trapped as a teenage mum? Use some protection then when you have sex, idiot. Take responsibility for your actions and look after your damn baby? I felt no sympathy when she died, which is another glossed over thing. No idea how or why she died and I couldn’t care less with how shitty I thought she was. Ossie, Ruby’s dad, turned out to actually be a nice guy. That was a shame. Because George, the big manipulator, had convinced Mary not to go with him to be a family and had hidden letters from Ossie begging to be together. Ossie died too, but we don’t know when, how or why. Jack was Oliver’s father and is spoken about a lot, but we rarely hear him actually speak or have any flashbacks or scenes with him so it was a very biased depiction.
World-Building:
The story is set on a fictional Thames island inspired by Eel Pie Island and Eel Pie Island Hotel. I enjoyed the setting a lot, with its enchanting feel and being so intertwined with nature. The descriptions of the island were beautiful, it’s just a shame the romance of the wilderness didn’t match the romance of the story. They even hold an open studio art festival, which actually happens in real life on Eel Pie Island. The closed community made the characters seem very sheltered from the outside world. The flashbacks of the hotel gave a nostalgic feel for the music scene in the 60s/70s, inspired by the real Eel Pie Island Hotel and the artists that played there. But it showed the lows too, such as the misogyny and sexual assault and a LOT of drugs. My issue was the vague mentions of ‘social justice’ that Mary and Ruby were passionate about. What social justice? It would have been better to delve into this, into what everybody was fighting for, because there was too much focus on the sex and rock ‘n’ roll side making the ‘social justice’ feel tagged on and downplayed. There was no mention in fact of how wrong it was that Mary and Ruby were both impregnated as teenagers, and at one point Mary remembers the sounds of a girl being raped upstairs in the hotel. For people wanting social justice where was the commentary and reflection from the characters on this? All of these issues contributed to the privileged, ignorant and isolated feel of the people living on the island. This was worsened by the classism some of the characters showed, with the people who moored illegally on the island being described as ‘tramps’ and ‘scruffy’ and there was a LOT of use of the word ‘gypsy’. So sounds like there wasn’t enough social justice going on at all.
Prose\Plot:
I didn’t mind the prose on the whole, aside from the dialogue in critical moments. When Mary finds out Ruby had died it was honestly a bit cringeworthy, with her anguish being reduced to what felt like a paragraph of non-punctuated repeated words. Not realistic sounding when said out loud, either. There were also multiple typos throughout the book. The romance writing was far too closed-door for a book advertised as ‘sexy’. Any intense or passionate moments were very rushed, which is why I found myself not feeling anything about their love story whatsoever.
Pacing was another big issue. This story is SLOW, and that’s coming from me who loves a slow burn. It got to a point where I was skimming the flashbacks or certain characters’ storylines, like Sophie, because they just weren’t interesting enough and delayed the main plot.
Plot wise the overarching theme just felt very low stakes. We all know Oliver isn’t going to sell the island, we all know he won’t take Willows away from Mary. So you’re left feeling… what was the point in all of that? It could have just been a story about Oliver and Jo rekindling their romance, and Jo rediscovering her love for art. Her jaunt in Florence was way too rushed, especially as it’s meant to completely change Jo’s life. Oliver’s discussion with his wife was too. She said a few lines and that was it, over. Seemingly no repercussions. That’s his whole life in New York, his whole family legacy, ditched so he can go and live on a Thames island. Jo and Oliver decide not to tell Mary about Ossie actually wanting to make life work with her, that he actually did love her, because they felt it would upset her due to her Alzheimer’s. So poor Mary got no closure on that either.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book which is a real shame.
🔥Quick Fire Review🔥
Genre/Themes: ⛴️🛶🎨🌻🏴🎸🎤🏡
Tropes: Orphan, Not Like the Other Girls, All Grown Up, Love/Hate Relationship, The One That Got Away, Reunion Romance, Second Chance Romance, Can’t Spit It Out, Everyone Can See It, Accidental Pregnancy, Marriage in Trouble, One Night Stand, Misunderstanding, Set in a Closed Community
Positives: quirky and interesting setting, romance plot about protagonists aged 30-40+ which is a rarity!
Room for Improvement 🔎 : unlikeable characters, romances felt very lacklustre, flashback scenes underutilised, sub-plots that added little to the story with missed opportunities, several typos
Rating: 🌕🌕🌖
✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑
I was really looking forward to this based on the reviews and ratings but sadly I just struggled to enjoy it. I think this was largely down to the fact that I didn’t find any of the characters relatable in the slightest, with the majority of them being privileged middle-aged people living on a private island on the Thames able to make their living from art alone. This privilege made them all act like impulsive, immature teenagers. The nostalgic elements weren’t enough to raise the stakes of the plot and I found myself skimming the second half waiting to reach the conclusion, which in the end was disappointingly anti-climatic anyway.
Characterisation:
Jo was the most interesting, nuanced character of the book. She started out as a feminist icon to be honest. A 40-something singleton, a party animal doing shots most nights then having casual sex, getting annoyed at people’s hypocrisy over her drunken antics versus her male counterparts doing the exact same things. From a child she had been seen as the ‘leader’ on the island amongst her peers. She was a loud, assertive, self-proclaimed ‘tomboy’. She was basically written to throw out the idea of female stereotypes and traditional ideas about femininity. But then it turns out she gave up her art career because a male teacher-turned-lover in Florence told her she wasn’t good enough. She’d actually been single all this time because she’d never gotten over the guy she knew as a teenager, not because she enjoyed the single life. In fact as soon as they got back together, she got pregnant and engaged. So to be honest I felt like the message of her character was ‘people who act like they don’t want a traditional female life are lying’. That was a bummer. I also found her very hypocritical. The aggression she showed over her neighbours buddying up with her ‘enemy’, the anger she showed towards Oliver for ‘betraying her’ suggested that loyalty and honesty were very important to her… but then she just completely overlooked the fact that her best friend CHEATED ON HER HUSBAND WITH THE GUY SHE WAS STILL IN LOVE WITH? In fact she HELPED HER COVER IT UP? What on earth was that? And why did she find it so easy to overlook that the guy she ends up with also fucked her best friend and another of her neighbours, all in the space of a few weeks while he was still married to a woman in America? Apparently she likes to pick and choose when loyalty and honesty are her values. Her ‘redemption’ arc of going to Florence and officially deciding she wants to paint again was also disappointing, because she basically only decided to let go of her exes’ opinion when she saw him again and felt he’d turned ugly? Apparently letting an attractive guy change the course of your life is fine but if they’re ugly you can let it go… So I can’t help but feel that Jo’s happiness was too reliant on men. I get that she had abandonment issues, after her mum leaving her as a toddler and having an absentee dad. Oliver leaving without a trace just added to these issues and she was desperate for validation. But get some therapy, girl. She was also aggravatingly immature, too. She never once let Oliver explain himself, instead having constant digs at him and starting arguments. The book could have been over in a couple of chapters if she’d actually just let him talk. So all in all she felt like a 40-something year old stuck at the mental age of a teenager because she didn’t have any reliant male figures in her life.
Oliver was such a boring love interest. I honestly didn’t understand everyone’s fascination with him other than being tall, attractive and rich. He was an anxious avoidant type with serious daddy issues. He would escalate fights with Jo then storm out, and he’d only come back to the island to escape his failing marriage under the guise of ridding himself of it. He shagged two women in the space of a few weeks because he was so in love with Jo and wanted to get back at her. What a catch! And his excuses about never coming back to Jo were so pathetic. ‘My dad made me do this’, ‘my dad told me that’. You are in your FORTIES AND RICH. Get over yourself. His mum dying on the island would have been a more understandable reason, but even that he blames on his dad and his neglect of his family so that was a shit excuse as well. The build up of their relationship was so lacklustre to me. The turning point was supposed to be the Christmas they spent together, but the fun they apparently had was so glossed over it felt like there was next to no development of their romance at all. When they finally got together I felt nothing. Yay, two immature and emotionally stunted individuals got back together after not sorting themselves out over the past twenty years! Yippee!
Mary was Jo’s grandmother and the matriarchal figure of the island. She was a nice old lady and unfortunately developing Alzheimer’s. She was guilty of coddling Jo, feeling responsible for the death of Jo’s mother because she didn’t follow her lover Ossie to LA to keep the family unit together. This coddling resulted in an unexplainable distance between her and Jo because they had never properly discussed Ruby leaving, even after all this time. Mary seemed unable to open her heart fully to men after Ossie, hence why her and Golibe break up even after 20 years. I found it sad that, like Jo, Mary holds herself back from love because she cannot let go of the past. I cannot help but feel Mary took advantage of Golibe and his kindness. It felt like a lot of take and not an awful lot of give. She was also accused of this with George, Oliver’s grandfather, who gave her the house and looked after her and Ruby. She did try and help earn her keep by working at the hotel and working multiple jobs as a single mother/grandmother, but I felt she knew damn well that George was in love with her but was afraid to officially tell him nothing was ever going to happen between them in case she lost his support. That’s George’s fault for exerting power over her through money, and trying to buy her affection, but I felt there was no reason for her to do the same to Golibe.
Sophie enraged me in this book. I felt she was an absolutely pointless character and was just there as plot fodder. As a friend she seemed to be the jealous and semi-resentful type towards Jo, more of a frenemy than a genuine friend. She goes for Oliver the moment he arrives, even though she knows about Jo’s issues with him. Oh, and that whole BEING MARRIED THING. A marriage she makes very clear throughout that she feels was the result of rebounding. SHE LIES ABOUT BEING ON THE PILL! Instead of being honest with her husband that she doesn’t want children. She spends the whole story trying to get her husband off the island and escaping to London, where her work was and where she truly wanted to be. She literally had no redeeming qualities, she was the worst. So we had Jo, who lived a non-traditional life that honestly sounded awesome but actually desperately craved a traditional one. Then we had Sophie who lived that traditional life but didn’t want it, and decided the only way she could go about it was by being a deceitful betrayer. What lovely messages about womanhood this book depicted.
Side characters were hit and miss. Dave, Sophie’s husband, was a pushy, manipulative busybody seemingly incapable of compromise. No, I don’t believe Sophie was right to lie about trying for a baby with him, and I don’t think he deserved ending up in a marriage doomed to fail. But the guy wouldn’t even get off the island to take his new wife on a honeymoon. He didn’t even recognise his wife’s discomfort when they talked about children. So, he was a total dick too.
Golibe was great but so underutilised. He was the one realist in Mary’s life, telling her straight that her granddaughter and her coddling of her was a problem and the reason they broke up. But Golibe was an African man moving to a closed white community in the 60s. Where was his story? So much could have been done with that. Their relationship of 20 years is completely glossed over, just showing how Mary seemed completely indifferent towards it in comparison to Ossie in the 60s. I’m glad Golibe found someone new because Mary didn’t deserve him, to be honest.
We only meet Ruby in flashbacks, but I felt she was a reckless coward if I’m being blunt. Want to travel the world and find fame? Don’t want to be trapped as a teenage mum? Use some protection then when you have sex, idiot. Take responsibility for your actions and look after your damn baby? I felt no sympathy when she died, which is another glossed over thing. No idea how or why she died and I couldn’t care less with how shitty I thought she was. Ossie, Ruby’s dad, turned out to actually be a nice guy. That was a shame. Because George, the big manipulator, had convinced Mary not to go with him to be a family and had hidden letters from Ossie begging to be together. Ossie died too, but we don’t know when, how or why. Jack was Oliver’s father and is spoken about a lot, but we rarely hear him actually speak or have any flashbacks or scenes with him so it was a very biased depiction.
World-Building:
The story is set on a fictional Thames island inspired by Eel Pie Island and Eel Pie Island Hotel. I enjoyed the setting a lot, with its enchanting feel and being so intertwined with nature. The descriptions of the island were beautiful, it’s just a shame the romance of the wilderness didn’t match the romance of the story. They even hold an open studio art festival, which actually happens in real life on Eel Pie Island. The closed community made the characters seem very sheltered from the outside world. The flashbacks of the hotel gave a nostalgic feel for the music scene in the 60s/70s, inspired by the real Eel Pie Island Hotel and the artists that played there. But it showed the lows too, such as the misogyny and sexual assault and a LOT of drugs. My issue was the vague mentions of ‘social justice’ that Mary and Ruby were passionate about. What social justice? It would have been better to delve into this, into what everybody was fighting for, because there was too much focus on the sex and rock ‘n’ roll side making the ‘social justice’ feel tagged on and downplayed. There was no mention in fact of how wrong it was that Mary and Ruby were both impregnated as teenagers, and at one point Mary remembers the sounds of a girl being raped upstairs in the hotel. For people wanting social justice where was the commentary and reflection from the characters on this? All of these issues contributed to the privileged, ignorant and isolated feel of the people living on the island. This was worsened by the classism some of the characters showed, with the people who moored illegally on the island being described as ‘tramps’ and ‘scruffy’ and there was a LOT of use of the word ‘gypsy’. So sounds like there wasn’t enough social justice going on at all.
Prose\Plot:
I didn’t mind the prose on the whole, aside from the dialogue in critical moments. When Mary finds out Ruby had died it was honestly a bit cringeworthy, with her anguish being reduced to what felt like a paragraph of non-punctuated repeated words. Not realistic sounding when said out loud, either. There were also multiple typos throughout the book. The romance writing was far too closed-door for a book advertised as ‘sexy’. Any intense or passionate moments were very rushed, which is why I found myself not feeling anything about their love story whatsoever.
Pacing was another big issue. This story is SLOW, and that’s coming from me who loves a slow burn. It got to a point where I was skimming the flashbacks or certain characters’ storylines, like Sophie, because they just weren’t interesting enough and delayed the main plot.
Plot wise the overarching theme just felt very low stakes. We all know Oliver isn’t going to sell the island, we all know he won’t take Willows away from Mary. So you’re left feeling… what was the point in all of that? It could have just been a story about Oliver and Jo rekindling their romance, and Jo rediscovering her love for art. Her jaunt in Florence was way too rushed, especially as it’s meant to completely change Jo’s life. Oliver’s discussion with his wife was too. She said a few lines and that was it, over. Seemingly no repercussions. That’s his whole life in New York, his whole family legacy, ditched so he can go and live on a Thames island. Jo and Oliver decide not to tell Mary about Ossie actually wanting to make life work with her, that he actually did love her, because they felt it would upset her due to her Alzheimer’s. So poor Mary got no closure on that either.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book which is a real shame.
July 10, 2025
Georgina Moore lives on a houseboat island on the River Thames so who could be better to write a book set in exactly that kind of place? River of Stars is set on the fictional Walnut Tree Island which is inspired by the real Eel Pie Island. If, like me, you're not familiar with that island, look it up: it's fascinating.
I do enjoy a duel timeline story and this one is done so well. In the present day, Jo's beloved island and way of living is threatened when new owner Oliver Greenwood returns and rumour has it he is planning to sell. Jo is furious and it doesn't help that there's history between these two. The other timeline begins in the 1960s and moves forward until the two converge. The story in the past begins with Jo's grandmother Mary, a teenage would-be singer who fell in love with a musician only to be left with a baby. Over the years, we find out what happened to drive the two families, the Greenwoods and the Stars, apart and we wonder if Oliver and Jo might be the ones to bring them together again.
I loved the setting of the island and could easily imagine the wild parties in the 60s and the more modern creatives' colony. I was recently in London for a few days and saw houseboats on the canal. I felt that if I could have followed the canal, I might just have come across the islanders I had been reading about. There were some wonderful characters including Mary (who was definitely one of my favourites), George Greenwood (Oliver's grandfather), Golibe who was such a support to Mary and of course, feisty Jo herself.
I enjoyed Georgina Moore's debut novel The Garnett Girls but I think I enjoyed this one even more. It's such an evocative read and it seemed particularly apt to be reading it in the middle of a hot spell. River of Stars is an engaging and heady mix of family secrets, love and community and an ideal book to add to your summer reading list.
I do enjoy a duel timeline story and this one is done so well. In the present day, Jo's beloved island and way of living is threatened when new owner Oliver Greenwood returns and rumour has it he is planning to sell. Jo is furious and it doesn't help that there's history between these two. The other timeline begins in the 1960s and moves forward until the two converge. The story in the past begins with Jo's grandmother Mary, a teenage would-be singer who fell in love with a musician only to be left with a baby. Over the years, we find out what happened to drive the two families, the Greenwoods and the Stars, apart and we wonder if Oliver and Jo might be the ones to bring them together again.
I loved the setting of the island and could easily imagine the wild parties in the 60s and the more modern creatives' colony. I was recently in London for a few days and saw houseboats on the canal. I felt that if I could have followed the canal, I might just have come across the islanders I had been reading about. There were some wonderful characters including Mary (who was definitely one of my favourites), George Greenwood (Oliver's grandfather), Golibe who was such a support to Mary and of course, feisty Jo herself.
I enjoyed Georgina Moore's debut novel The Garnett Girls but I think I enjoyed this one even more. It's such an evocative read and it seemed particularly apt to be reading it in the middle of a hot spell. River of Stars is an engaging and heady mix of family secrets, love and community and an ideal book to add to your summer reading list.
July 5, 2025
4* River of Stars by Georgina Moore is a fantastic book about bonds, community and family.
Jo and her grandmother Mary live on Walnut Tree Island, a small community close to London. Immortalised by the bands that played at the local hotel in the 1960s, the residents live a idealistic life save for the ongoing concern that the family that own the island will return to claim their stake. When a former resident returns, it upends the lives of almost everyone and secrets start to spill out.
This is Georgina Moore’s second novel, after the utterly superb Garnett Girls. She again shows an incredible touch for building characters, family and community into a cohesive whole that the reader really care about. Each of the protagonists brings something to the story and the plot is wrought with intrigue, making this a real page turner.
I initially wasn’t sure about the island community which, even if fairly true to life, had a feel of Enid Blyton meets Woodstock. But once I was in, I was in - the island becoming a central character on its own. I hugely enjoyed this book, reading it across 2 days!
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for an ARC
Jo and her grandmother Mary live on Walnut Tree Island, a small community close to London. Immortalised by the bands that played at the local hotel in the 1960s, the residents live a idealistic life save for the ongoing concern that the family that own the island will return to claim their stake. When a former resident returns, it upends the lives of almost everyone and secrets start to spill out.
This is Georgina Moore’s second novel, after the utterly superb Garnett Girls. She again shows an incredible touch for building characters, family and community into a cohesive whole that the reader really care about. Each of the protagonists brings something to the story and the plot is wrought with intrigue, making this a real page turner.
I initially wasn’t sure about the island community which, even if fairly true to life, had a feel of Enid Blyton meets Woodstock. But once I was in, I was in - the island becoming a central character on its own. I hugely enjoyed this book, reading it across 2 days!
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for an ARC
April 25, 2025
Sadly I was disappointed by this new novel from Moore. I just felt no interest in the characters - they seemed like a spoiled bunch and were only interested in their tiny privileged existence. I'm sorry!
January 17, 2026
Disclaimer: Jonathan Ball Publishers kindly sent me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Jo Star has lived on Walnut Tree Island all her life, with the exception of the time spent in Florence as an art student. When her professor told her she wasn't good enough, she left not only Europe but her love of painting behind. Now, at the age of 40, she's beginning to worry that she's let her life pass her by.
She shares the island with a collection of colourful characters, including her grandmother Mary. Mary raised Jo when her mother, Ruby, left the island. Mary has been living on Walnut Tree since she was a runaway teen, pregnant with Ruby, and in love with the music that used to float off the River Thames. Mary still lives in the same house she was gifted as a young mother by the island's former owner, George Greenwood, back in the '60s.
Now George's grandson, Oliver, has returned to the island after his father died and wants to investigate his inheritance. The islanders are terrified that he wants to sell the island to the highest bidder, and no one is angrier than Jo Star.
Back when Jo and Oliver were teenagers, they spent an unforgettable summer together on the island, and both have never forgotten it. Now, Oliver's marriage is on the rocks, and Jo is hiding in her art studio, teaching kids rather than creating her own masterpieces. Both seem to be hiding away, and they're using the island to cover their tracks.
The point of view is also Mary's. She's starting to forget, and the memories she has of what Walnut Tree once was are fading. She once had dreams of her own, dreams of being a singer that were never realized, and she doesn't want the same for Jo and her own passions. She has regrets in life, and in love, and the idea of her island disappearing is not a fate she wants for any of the islanders.
As Jo and Oliver attempt to find their way back to who they once were and where they stand now, Walnut Tree Island, with its house boats and crumbling buildings, continues to host late-night parties, picnics, and cruises, echoing the music from its past.
River of Stars is about family, preserving the past, and looking forward to the future. It's about memories, and the hardships of growing older. It's also about mothers and sacrifices, lost love, and believing in yourself. It's a beautiful story of redemption, the thrill of pursuing your dreams, and the sorrow of having to say goodbye to everything you know. Moore's characters are so warm and lovable, and Walnut Tree is a fictional Island you won't forget any time soon.
Jo Star has lived on Walnut Tree Island all her life, with the exception of the time spent in Florence as an art student. When her professor told her she wasn't good enough, she left not only Europe but her love of painting behind. Now, at the age of 40, she's beginning to worry that she's let her life pass her by.
She shares the island with a collection of colourful characters, including her grandmother Mary. Mary raised Jo when her mother, Ruby, left the island. Mary has been living on Walnut Tree since she was a runaway teen, pregnant with Ruby, and in love with the music that used to float off the River Thames. Mary still lives in the same house she was gifted as a young mother by the island's former owner, George Greenwood, back in the '60s.
Now George's grandson, Oliver, has returned to the island after his father died and wants to investigate his inheritance. The islanders are terrified that he wants to sell the island to the highest bidder, and no one is angrier than Jo Star.
Back when Jo and Oliver were teenagers, they spent an unforgettable summer together on the island, and both have never forgotten it. Now, Oliver's marriage is on the rocks, and Jo is hiding in her art studio, teaching kids rather than creating her own masterpieces. Both seem to be hiding away, and they're using the island to cover their tracks.
The point of view is also Mary's. She's starting to forget, and the memories she has of what Walnut Tree once was are fading. She once had dreams of her own, dreams of being a singer that were never realized, and she doesn't want the same for Jo and her own passions. She has regrets in life, and in love, and the idea of her island disappearing is not a fate she wants for any of the islanders.
As Jo and Oliver attempt to find their way back to who they once were and where they stand now, Walnut Tree Island, with its house boats and crumbling buildings, continues to host late-night parties, picnics, and cruises, echoing the music from its past.
River of Stars is about family, preserving the past, and looking forward to the future. It's about memories, and the hardships of growing older. It's also about mothers and sacrifices, lost love, and believing in yourself. It's a beautiful story of redemption, the thrill of pursuing your dreams, and the sorrow of having to say goodbye to everything you know. Moore's characters are so warm and lovable, and Walnut Tree is a fictional Island you won't forget any time soon.
June 25, 2025
The characters of this novel are all grappling with the physical and emotional burden of inheritance. For better or worse, they cannot escape what the past has given them and must face the uncontrollable in honour of a future that might resemble their own aspirations and desires.
Set on the fictional island of Walnut Tree, the uniqueness of the place inevitably shapes the feelings of those who inhabit it. This creates a strong sense of belonging I also resonated with - the beauty of being so deeply connected to the place you come from, yet the limitations of not being able to see beyond the world you have created for yourself.
There is also love and loss and hope and disappointment. But this is shared throughout the community, as if everyone was involved in their own peculiar way. Individualism is suddenly dropped, taken over by what might seem a gossip-driven interest, but is instead the trust and support that comes with commitment.
On Walnut Tree you will probably know everyone’s name, address and drink of choice at the pub. You will definitely spot them falling gradually in love with another islander, and that’s all the town will be able to talk about. And that’s okay, it’s the simple things. Finding each other, caring, sharing and ultimately, staying - one of those things we know less how to do in the hustle and bustle of big cities.
This novel is about Jo and Oliver, about Mary and Joe, Sophie and Dave, Mary and George, Jack and Oliver and so on… It’s about the multiple storylines between different people that will at some point come back to us and affect us all.
Longevity is what this book wants and what it wants from its characters. It wants them to do what is best for them in the long-term, and that’s not easy, sometimes we just can’t commit to what matters to us the most.
Set on the fictional island of Walnut Tree, the uniqueness of the place inevitably shapes the feelings of those who inhabit it. This creates a strong sense of belonging I also resonated with - the beauty of being so deeply connected to the place you come from, yet the limitations of not being able to see beyond the world you have created for yourself.
There is also love and loss and hope and disappointment. But this is shared throughout the community, as if everyone was involved in their own peculiar way. Individualism is suddenly dropped, taken over by what might seem a gossip-driven interest, but is instead the trust and support that comes with commitment.
On Walnut Tree you will probably know everyone’s name, address and drink of choice at the pub. You will definitely spot them falling gradually in love with another islander, and that’s all the town will be able to talk about. And that’s okay, it’s the simple things. Finding each other, caring, sharing and ultimately, staying - one of those things we know less how to do in the hustle and bustle of big cities.
This novel is about Jo and Oliver, about Mary and Joe, Sophie and Dave, Mary and George, Jack and Oliver and so on… It’s about the multiple storylines between different people that will at some point come back to us and affect us all.
Longevity is what this book wants and what it wants from its characters. It wants them to do what is best for them in the long-term, and that’s not easy, sometimes we just can’t commit to what matters to us the most.
July 25, 2025
i absolutely loved river of stars! georgina is one of my favourite authors and she’s done it again with a story full of heart, emotion and characters you really care about. i was hooked from the start & loved the mix of the 1960s music scene and the present-day fight to protect a close-knit island community.
jo’s journey, and the way the past and present connect, was so moving. it’s about family, legacy, and learning to face things that have been left unsaid for too long.
thank you so much to HQ Stories and georgina for the gifted copy. i really recommend picking this one up. it’s such a brilliant read!✨🌅
jo’s journey, and the way the past and present connect, was so moving. it’s about family, legacy, and learning to face things that have been left unsaid for too long.
thank you so much to HQ Stories and georgina for the gifted copy. i really recommend picking this one up. it’s such a brilliant read!✨🌅
June 18, 2025
Enjoyed this book. Took me a while to get into it - there seemed to be a lot of characters and I was struggling with who was who! - but once I did, I loved the island and its community. There is a dual timeline, but the sections from the past are much smaller compared with the current time period. They just help to set the scene for what happened in the past that still affects the characters today. There is a lot of history and this shows up in how people still behave and the relationships they have.
April 26, 2025
Set on an imagined island in the Thames, amongst a community of artists, misfits and boat builders this is a beautiful and touching novel which I consumed in one sitting. Spanning several decades and several generations this is story about belonging, community, art but most of all about all the different sorts of love and how this less than perfect world can get in the way of them. Atmospheric, wonderfully well written and an absolute joy to read, shall definitely be picking up anything else by this author. Fabulous!
November 10, 2025
An entertaining family saga set in the most beautiful setting. Georgina Moore has described the Island in the most vivid way and the lives of the islanders so intriguing.
Jo and Mary’s stories were interesting but it was missing some of the details of their lives for me - I wanted more of Ruby, of Oliver’s mother and the teenagers years between Oliver and Jo.
Jo and Mary’s stories were interesting but it was missing some of the details of their lives for me - I wanted more of Ruby, of Oliver’s mother and the teenagers years between Oliver and Jo.
September 8, 2025
An enjoyable duel time line novel about living on the Thames; I enjoyed the 1960s story more than the current day one.
January 27, 2026
I just wish I could start reading it again! A story I just want to sink into!
June 12, 2025
River of Stars is a multi-generational story about people living on an island in the Thames. The 60' s story about Mary appealed to me as that is my generation but we didn't hear too much about that. The novel concentrated on Jo, Mary's granddaughter whom I couldn't take to at all. I thought the storyline was predictable and I guessed the end early on. This was my first Georgina Moore book but I'm afraid I'm not tempted to read more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own
January 7, 2026
Dear Georgina,
Some stories don’t simply unfold, they envelop you. River of Stars is one of those rare novels that quietly pulls you in and asks you to stay.
From the very first pages, you captivated me with the lives intertwined on Walnut Tree Island. Told across past and present, this is a tender, beautifully layered story of love and loss, secrets and lies, and the enduring threads of family. The island itself feels like a living, breathing presence ,shaped by memory, music, and longing.
Your writing is lyrical and atmospheric, rich with emotion and exquisite detail. The characters feel so real that I found myself living alongside them, invested in their choices and their histories. I was especially drawn to the artistic, musical community, living on the island feels romantic and dreamlike, the kind of place you long to escape to and belong within.
This was my favourite book of 2025,and a story I won’t forget for a very long time, and one that will stay with me like a half-remembered song.
Thank you for such a beautiful, immersive reading experience.
Some stories don’t simply unfold, they envelop you. River of Stars is one of those rare novels that quietly pulls you in and asks you to stay.
From the very first pages, you captivated me with the lives intertwined on Walnut Tree Island. Told across past and present, this is a tender, beautifully layered story of love and loss, secrets and lies, and the enduring threads of family. The island itself feels like a living, breathing presence ,shaped by memory, music, and longing.
Your writing is lyrical and atmospheric, rich with emotion and exquisite detail. The characters feel so real that I found myself living alongside them, invested in their choices and their histories. I was especially drawn to the artistic, musical community, living on the island feels romantic and dreamlike, the kind of place you long to escape to and belong within.
This was my favourite book of 2025,and a story I won’t forget for a very long time, and one that will stay with me like a half-remembered song.
Thank you for such a beautiful, immersive reading experience.
June 22, 2025
Jo hasn’t seen Oliver since that magical, life-changing summer when their idyllic island paradise was shattered. Growing up on Walnut Tree Island, they were everything to each other, defying a feud that fractured their families decades before. If first love runs deep, Jo and Oliver’s ran like the river itself, fast and true.
On Walnut Tree Island, love affairs and secrets come and go like the tides. Once the pulse of a flourishing 1960s music scene, it’s where Mary Star fell in love with a young musician about to hit the big time, only to be left with a baby and a broken heart. Mary has made the island a haven for two generations of Star women, raising her daughter and her granddaughter, surrounded by the river, supported by a bohemian, artistic community.
But Oliver’s return to the island after years away throws everyone into a frenzy. The threat of change is coming to paradise. And for Jo, Oliver’s return opens the wounds of a love she thought she had lost for ever…
Well Georgina Moore has done it again. A novel, shimmering with emotion, characters that draw you in and occupy your heart, and an astounding, captivating sense of place. After her fabulous debut, The Garnett Girls, she has come up with this beautiful book, which elegantly and successfully dispels the age old "tricky second novel" trope. Thank you, Harper Collins, for access to the Netgalley so that I could read it ahead of publication on 3rd July. It's a gorgeous read!
If you enjoy a dual timeline story with well developed, fully rounded characters who drive it along, this one is definitely for you. It's a bittersweet blend of art, music, love, unhappiness, bitterness, missed opportunities, and mistakes repeated down the generations, all playing out on Walnut Tree Island on the Thames, which is based on the real life Eel Pie Island.
Mary is the island's matriarch, and the thread that weaves together both of the novel's timelines. The way the reader gets to know her so well as a teenager with an incredible singing voice, then later as a single mother to Ruby and grandmother to Jo, and ultimately, as an older woman, adds extra layers of poignancy to this already emotional story. She has loved, lost, and sacrificed, and is now sustained by her memories, and a full life in the island community she loves.
Jo, an artist, is very much her own woman. She's strong, independent, fierce, passionate, impulsive and hedonistic, firmly at the heart of the island's social life. Her sometimes brash, abrasive, one-of-the-boys persona, masks a big caring heart when it comes to Mary and the Island, as well as enormous insecurities, and a soul damaged by abandonment and a harmful relationship.
Oliver too carries emotional and psychological scars from always having to prove himself to his difficult father, and from the loss of his beloved mother whilst he was still a child.
A trinity of damaged people held in thrall by a past they must reconcile with, whose stories explore themes of love and loss, secrets, hope, and the importance of community.
The big take away from this novel has to be, "carpe diem": seize the day, don't leave things too late, and grasp every opportunity.
I absolutely loved it, and know that these characters, the island that means so much to them, and the novel's themes, will live in my head and heart for a long time to come. Highly recommended!
On Walnut Tree Island, love affairs and secrets come and go like the tides. Once the pulse of a flourishing 1960s music scene, it’s where Mary Star fell in love with a young musician about to hit the big time, only to be left with a baby and a broken heart. Mary has made the island a haven for two generations of Star women, raising her daughter and her granddaughter, surrounded by the river, supported by a bohemian, artistic community.
But Oliver’s return to the island after years away throws everyone into a frenzy. The threat of change is coming to paradise. And for Jo, Oliver’s return opens the wounds of a love she thought she had lost for ever…
Well Georgina Moore has done it again. A novel, shimmering with emotion, characters that draw you in and occupy your heart, and an astounding, captivating sense of place. After her fabulous debut, The Garnett Girls, she has come up with this beautiful book, which elegantly and successfully dispels the age old "tricky second novel" trope. Thank you, Harper Collins, for access to the Netgalley so that I could read it ahead of publication on 3rd July. It's a gorgeous read!
If you enjoy a dual timeline story with well developed, fully rounded characters who drive it along, this one is definitely for you. It's a bittersweet blend of art, music, love, unhappiness, bitterness, missed opportunities, and mistakes repeated down the generations, all playing out on Walnut Tree Island on the Thames, which is based on the real life Eel Pie Island.
Mary is the island's matriarch, and the thread that weaves together both of the novel's timelines. The way the reader gets to know her so well as a teenager with an incredible singing voice, then later as a single mother to Ruby and grandmother to Jo, and ultimately, as an older woman, adds extra layers of poignancy to this already emotional story. She has loved, lost, and sacrificed, and is now sustained by her memories, and a full life in the island community she loves.
Jo, an artist, is very much her own woman. She's strong, independent, fierce, passionate, impulsive and hedonistic, firmly at the heart of the island's social life. Her sometimes brash, abrasive, one-of-the-boys persona, masks a big caring heart when it comes to Mary and the Island, as well as enormous insecurities, and a soul damaged by abandonment and a harmful relationship.
Oliver too carries emotional and psychological scars from always having to prove himself to his difficult father, and from the loss of his beloved mother whilst he was still a child.
A trinity of damaged people held in thrall by a past they must reconcile with, whose stories explore themes of love and loss, secrets, hope, and the importance of community.
The big take away from this novel has to be, "carpe diem": seize the day, don't leave things too late, and grasp every opportunity.
I absolutely loved it, and know that these characters, the island that means so much to them, and the novel's themes, will live in my head and heart for a long time to come. Highly recommended!
January 27, 2025
Georgina Moore follows up her perfect and transportive debut (if you haven’t read Garnett Girls please do!) with River of Stars, and with the progression of her career I have the feeling she’ll soon be taking up the mantle of the likes of Maeve Binchey, not just for the quality of writing but also because her books are a requirement on all true booklovers shelves.
Set on the fictional Walnut Tree Island; River of Stars, just like Moore’s first book, provides the reader with characters who feel fully formed and as if you could easily run into them on the street. Jo Star, whose attitude and the way she holds herself I couldn’t help but associate with my beloved Jo March, is living on the island teaching art classes after giving up her own dreams of being an artist. Her grandmother Mary Star lives on the island with her and has lived here for most of her lifetime. She’s the matriarch of the island and pours out love to all around here and her beloved island.
Life is very much undisturbed on Walnut Tree Island, that is until the new owner shows up and he’s not an unknown entity. In fact a lot of the island have their own history with Oliver, especially Jo. Oliver’s father and grandfather before him owned the island and now it falls to Oliver to take over the island and the residents are worried about what that’ll mean for their way of life.
Oliver at one time during his youth was an integral part of the gang including Jo and Dave, who grew up on the island and spent an idyll summer amongst the residents. But after his father took him away nothing more was heard of from Oliver and it appears he’s not very fond of the place anymore.
Other characters of note are Dave who was a childhood friend of Jo and Oliver and who still lives and works on the island and his new wife Sophie, whose life had been unsettled until a whirlwind marriage with Dave and now she’s adjusting to her new status as both a wife and a resident of Walnut Tree Island.
Along the way we see what has drawn people to the island, including going all the way back to the Island’s past glory days when Mary found herself there and how she made it her home and her life.
The islanders have to grapple with the changing faces of the island and how the presence of Oliver Greenwood will have repercussions for all of them.
The island itself is a main character to this novel and throughout every storyline is the constant thread and pull of the island and even in scenes off of Walnut Tree, it’s very much still a presence. You can feel the pull of it through every line.
As a personal note, this book hit me quite emotionally, as just like Jo, I also grew up with my grandmother and we have a special relationship like that of Mary and Jo. After a tough year for us last year, it was lovely to see the grandmother/daughter relationship handled with such care in fiction.
Set on the fictional Walnut Tree Island; River of Stars, just like Moore’s first book, provides the reader with characters who feel fully formed and as if you could easily run into them on the street. Jo Star, whose attitude and the way she holds herself I couldn’t help but associate with my beloved Jo March, is living on the island teaching art classes after giving up her own dreams of being an artist. Her grandmother Mary Star lives on the island with her and has lived here for most of her lifetime. She’s the matriarch of the island and pours out love to all around here and her beloved island.
Life is very much undisturbed on Walnut Tree Island, that is until the new owner shows up and he’s not an unknown entity. In fact a lot of the island have their own history with Oliver, especially Jo. Oliver’s father and grandfather before him owned the island and now it falls to Oliver to take over the island and the residents are worried about what that’ll mean for their way of life.
Oliver at one time during his youth was an integral part of the gang including Jo and Dave, who grew up on the island and spent an idyll summer amongst the residents. But after his father took him away nothing more was heard of from Oliver and it appears he’s not very fond of the place anymore.
Other characters of note are Dave who was a childhood friend of Jo and Oliver and who still lives and works on the island and his new wife Sophie, whose life had been unsettled until a whirlwind marriage with Dave and now she’s adjusting to her new status as both a wife and a resident of Walnut Tree Island.
Along the way we see what has drawn people to the island, including going all the way back to the Island’s past glory days when Mary found herself there and how she made it her home and her life.
The islanders have to grapple with the changing faces of the island and how the presence of Oliver Greenwood will have repercussions for all of them.
The island itself is a main character to this novel and throughout every storyline is the constant thread and pull of the island and even in scenes off of Walnut Tree, it’s very much still a presence. You can feel the pull of it through every line.
As a personal note, this book hit me quite emotionally, as just like Jo, I also grew up with my grandmother and we have a special relationship like that of Mary and Jo. After a tough year for us last year, it was lovely to see the grandmother/daughter relationship handled with such care in fiction.
August 14, 2025
If time was sending her warnings, she had to listen and stop waiting for the right time to speak. Mary saw then that as long as we were alive, we still had the chance to change our lives, to try for the life we wanted.
Jo Star lives on an island in the Thames River, an artists' commune she grew up on, along with her grandmother, Mary, who raised her. In the 60s, Mary was a backup singer at Walnut Tree Island's famous hotel, hanging out with the beatniks, social justice warriors and musicians. Now, she just wants to see Jo happy and return to making art.
When Oliver Greenwood inherits the island from his father, he wants to be rid of it. Oliver spent a magical summer on Walnut Tree Island as a teenager, whiling away hours with Jo. When Oliver's father rips him away, he promises Jo he'll return, but he breaks his promise. Decades later, Jo is still angry and hurt, furious that he now wants to destroy her home.
What drew me to this book was my interest in Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, London (I haven't been yet – it's only open to visitors twice a year), and the author acknowledges that this place was her inspiration for the novel. I enjoyed learning about the musical history, about the people who loved art and poetry and opposed the Vietnam War. I also loved the descriptions of the island and the people who call it home.
My biggest struggle was connecting with the characters. I felt like Jo was too extreme in her emotional responses – I get why she was angry, but she acts seriously childishly for a 40-year-old woman. Hearing Oliver out would have cost her nothing (and would have given her extra opportunities to yell at him). The constant miscommunication frustrated me. I am also really turned off by the cheating trope that rears its head among some of the side characters, and the story's justifications of it didn't sit well with me.
I wanted to feel the emotion, the angst that both Jo and Oliver must have felt, and I just didn't. I heard this author being described as the British Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I have read nearly all TJR's books, and the one thing she excels at is making you care about her characters deeply, even if they can be unlikeable at times. I also felt like the book skirts around many plot points without enough exposition: I wanted more details about what happened to Ruby, why Mary and Godibe's relationship failed, and why Jo felt it necessary to flee Florence.
I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in a part of London many (including me) know little about. I am eagerly awaiting the next time Eel Pie Island is open to visitors!
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