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The Woman and Her Stars: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26She must find her own place amongst the stars.
Caroline Herschel has always lived in the shadows. Beholden to her wildly popular older brother, William, who rescued her from servitude, she's worked hard to build a life for herself – one where she can go unnoticed and repay the debt she believes she owes. But when her brother becomes obsessed with sweeping the heavens, everything changes.
Newly appointed as the King's Astronomer, William is rushed away from the bustling streets of Bath to the quiet countryside of Windsor. When Caroline makes a discovery that could send her right back to the people she was rescued from, she has no choice but to leave her carefully constructed life and follow her brother. Taking up the position as William's assistant, Caroline resolves to learn everything she can about astronomy. But the more she understands, the more she falls in love with her telescope, and soon, she discovers that she might be good at the science, great, even, and that the stars could offer her the freedom she's always secretly wanted. When it’s clear that Caroline is just as much the astronomer as her brother, she realizes she must break free from the life she has lived and find her own place in the night sky.
Based on the true story of Caroline Herschel, The Woman and Her Stars shines a light on a woman who was raised to believe she was worth nothing more than to serve others, but whose genius and resolve made her one of the world’s leading astronomers. An awe-inspiring story set within the societal boundaries of the Georgian era, it’s a hopeful journey of self-discovery, familial bonds, and passion.
Caroline Herschel has always lived in the shadows. Beholden to her wildly popular older brother, William, who rescued her from servitude, she's worked hard to build a life for herself – one where she can go unnoticed and repay the debt she believes she owes. But when her brother becomes obsessed with sweeping the heavens, everything changes.
Newly appointed as the King's Astronomer, William is rushed away from the bustling streets of Bath to the quiet countryside of Windsor. When Caroline makes a discovery that could send her right back to the people she was rescued from, she has no choice but to leave her carefully constructed life and follow her brother. Taking up the position as William's assistant, Caroline resolves to learn everything she can about astronomy. But the more she understands, the more she falls in love with her telescope, and soon, she discovers that she might be good at the science, great, even, and that the stars could offer her the freedom she's always secretly wanted. When it’s clear that Caroline is just as much the astronomer as her brother, she realizes she must break free from the life she has lived and find her own place in the night sky.
Based on the true story of Caroline Herschel, The Woman and Her Stars shines a light on a woman who was raised to believe she was worth nothing more than to serve others, but whose genius and resolve made her one of the world’s leading astronomers. An awe-inspiring story set within the societal boundaries of the Georgian era, it’s a hopeful journey of self-discovery, familial bonds, and passion.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 3, 2026
7 people are currently reading
4485 people want to read
About the author
Penny Haw
7 books231 followersPenny Haw was the recipient of the 2024 Philida Literary Award for her “oeuvre of literary excellence” and won the 2022 Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award.
Her books feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for animals and nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things.
Penny’s works of biographical historical fiction are published by Sourcebooks Landmark and include The Invincible Miss Cust (2022), The Woman at the Wheel (2023), Follow Me to Africa (2025) and The Woman and Her Stars (2026). Her other books include The Wilderness Between Us (2021), which is contemporary fiction while Nicko (2017) is a children’s book.
Penny lives in Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.
Her books feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for animals and nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things.
Penny’s works of biographical historical fiction are published by Sourcebooks Landmark and include The Invincible Miss Cust (2022), The Woman at the Wheel (2023), Follow Me to Africa (2025) and The Woman and Her Stars (2026). Her other books include The Wilderness Between Us (2021), which is contemporary fiction while Nicko (2017) is a children’s book.
Penny lives in Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 2, 2025
4.5🌟
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book started off slow for me with a lot of character dialog and foundation building, more than I thought necessary. The story picks up and evolves into a terrific tale. While this is an historical fiction novel, it tracks closely to Caroline Hershel's memoir and her work as an astronomer. I recommend reading this book!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book started off slow for me with a lot of character dialog and foundation building, more than I thought necessary. The story picks up and evolves into a terrific tale. While this is an historical fiction novel, it tracks closely to Caroline Hershel's memoir and her work as an astronomer. I recommend reading this book!
October 15, 2025
‘The skies are full of surprises. That’s what excites me.’
What a powerful historical novel! First, the cover is stunning. It is atmospheric, dreamy and full of promise and reminds me of all the nights as a child lying on the grass and gazing up at the stars. My imagination was limitless and the night sky sparked many poems, songs and stories. So it was easy for me to fall in love with a story about astronomy. And being written by Penny Haw, made it in more inviting.
I have read some amazing historical fiction novels of late but Penny Haw’s The Woman and Her Stars gripped and captivated me in a way that is hard to express. I felt incredible emotions while reading this book. Sadness, annoyance, disbelief, compassion and so much more. I was pulled into Caroline’s world so quickly and completely I forgot my own environment. I could not put this book down. Penny Haw is an incredible artist of words. I have loved each one of her novels for they are always literary, imaginative and well written. She offers unique perspectives on real historical women. She combines her investigative skills as a journalist and creative writing skills as a novelist and produces the perfect union of fact and fiction. Her research is thorough and her imagination fills in the missing pieces divinely.
A usual topic for Penny is historical women of significance who struggled for recognition. She has the gift of delivering a descriptive setting, common speech and cultural norms of the day to create believable characters that we can visualise, have emphathy for and cheer on. We get to see their challenges and what they must overcome to succeed and be happy. In The Woman and Her Stars, we slip inside Caroline’s skin where all her emotions become ours.
As mentioned, I have always been fascinated by the stars as most dreamers are! But to see how Caroline’s passion for astronomy develops is interesting and even more how it goes beyond even her love of music and singing. Caroline is on a detour that will change her life. This new direction, though, was spurred on by a need to escape control from her mother. If she lives with her brother William, becomes useful to him, she won’t be sent back to nursing her difficult mother. The motive may have initially been a negative one but in the end, it forces her to move in a different direction to achieve a positive result. The trials make her stronger, wiser and lead her to reach beyond herself to new areas such as the stars and to discovering unknown heavenly bodies. This in turn gives her the recognition and independence she desires and deserves. Something unheard of in those days for women!
The author takes us on an in-depth study of Caroline’s character. Her journey of self discovery and confidence is a rough one. With so many cultural habits and views to overcome, it is hard for her to accept she is worthy of the fame she receives. She also misses out on love, even though she is briefly tempted. But her life, perceptions and successes are so tangled up with her brother William’s, that it becomes a snare for her feet as she tries to walk her own path. During one of her blind moments, her brother Alex makes a comment that is perceptive and true. He notes that even though she has fled Hanover to escape being her mother’s servant, she has now become her brother’s keeper and his assistant. So what has she gained? Has she traded one yoke for another? In her words ‘It is not the same…William has given me an education. I am not his servant. But I must remain useful to him if I’m to stay in England. I don’t want to go back to Hanover.’ This belief causes her to miss out on many things. But there is a moment of revelation at the end where she realises she does have a choice—even though women in those days had very little freedom and were governed by a male hierarchy. So many times I wanted Caroline to rebuke that system and fight for her rights but in the end I realised she was her own worst enemy or prisoner. Thankfully experience and time show her another path is possible.
Sadly, for a better part of her life she becomes so entwined with her brothers’ existence, dreams and accomplishments, when change comes, she does not know how to handle it. Or to sail on her own merit. This makes her angry, resentful and bitter. Until the one person in her life she loves the most has a terrible tragedy which forces her to mend her fences, look at her actions and attitudes and see what is really important. I don’t want to give away the plot so I won’t say what happens but it is easy to see why the drastic change that comes from an unexpected event could make her feel threatened and as though her whole world is falling apart.
I need to mention a canine character. Comet stole the scenes many times and added so much to Caroline’s life. He helped eased her loneliness and pain when she left Bath and her singing— to work with her brother in Datchet. She learned some hard lessons about the need for companionship—while coming to grips with Comet and his needs. Then another bigger challenge happens that exposes her low self-esteem. These issues possibly stem from the culture’s viewpoints of women at the time. Archaic society certainly fuelled her weakness but also scars she received as a child from an illness hindered her self image, too. There was so much stacked against her, even though she was a talented and smart woman. Her excellent stage singing helped her face people in the public. But she took a back step when she had to give it up to live with her older brother in a rural town. Where he went, she followed. He was her lifeline.
There are a number of engaging likeable characters who supported Caroline and her brothers Alex and William. There’s Mr Corden with his sincere friendship and constant rescue and assistance. And Dr. Watson’s with his life-saving knowledge and trustworthiness. Then the two women Margaret and Mary who enter the brother’s lives and prove to be supporters of Caroline and care about her even when she doubts them. Caroline’s insecurities become clear and why she resists these women’s friendship initially before change happens. On the flip side, there is the antagonist Miss Hudson who is self-serving, manipulative and a major opposition at times. She adds stress, frustration and worry to Caroline and William’s lives (and tension to the plot). I was often aligned with Caroline in her desire to put Miss Hudson in her place!
Love is a topic Caroline struggles with and not just romance or marital but also friendship. When Mary is pleading with Caroline to see reason she makes an excellent comparison. ‘Affection doesn’t come in limited quantities. It’s not like a bag of flour from the miller that gets used up. It’s, it’s…like the night sky. There’s no obvious end to it, no matter how powerful your instrument is. There is no limit to love.’ Caroline, at times, is harsh in her response to others. But this stems from her own lack of self-worth—and how she thinks everyone sees her. Using first names for Caroline is a no no… in her mind, you have to earn it.. to be considered a friend. And Mary tries hard to accomplish this. It takes a tragedy for Caroline to come to her senses and to see what is in front of her—not the dim, loveless world her mind believes.
Often references to astronomy, planets, etc are used by the characters to describe relationships. In a discussion Mary has with Caroline, she explains how William believes his sister is his equal. As Mary relates, when William and Caroline practice astronomy together—‘it is not always self-evident who of the two of you is the planet and who the moon.’ ‘…it isn’t always evident who orbits who.’ This stuns Caroline and is a turning point for her when she hears this.
Yes, the astronomy journey starts with Caroline’s brother. After he discovers planet Georgian Sidus, his name goes ‘to the top of the list of the world’s notable astronomers’ and he is awarded the Royal Society Copley Medal for discovery. But when Caroline also discovers new celestial bodies, her name becomes just as important. It is hard at first for her to believe she is more than her brother’s assistant. She may have learned from him but she has excelled and is an astronomer in her own right. And this new found victory made her known to a world that did not originally acknowledge women in this field (or any others).
This story, beautifully told by Penny Haw, made my heart sing and dream and appreciate even more the beauty of the stars and the ones who discovered them—particularly Caroline Herschel who came out of the shadows into the light. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to SourceBooks Landmark and Netgalley for the ARC.
What a powerful historical novel! First, the cover is stunning. It is atmospheric, dreamy and full of promise and reminds me of all the nights as a child lying on the grass and gazing up at the stars. My imagination was limitless and the night sky sparked many poems, songs and stories. So it was easy for me to fall in love with a story about astronomy. And being written by Penny Haw, made it in more inviting.
I have read some amazing historical fiction novels of late but Penny Haw’s The Woman and Her Stars gripped and captivated me in a way that is hard to express. I felt incredible emotions while reading this book. Sadness, annoyance, disbelief, compassion and so much more. I was pulled into Caroline’s world so quickly and completely I forgot my own environment. I could not put this book down. Penny Haw is an incredible artist of words. I have loved each one of her novels for they are always literary, imaginative and well written. She offers unique perspectives on real historical women. She combines her investigative skills as a journalist and creative writing skills as a novelist and produces the perfect union of fact and fiction. Her research is thorough and her imagination fills in the missing pieces divinely.
A usual topic for Penny is historical women of significance who struggled for recognition. She has the gift of delivering a descriptive setting, common speech and cultural norms of the day to create believable characters that we can visualise, have emphathy for and cheer on. We get to see their challenges and what they must overcome to succeed and be happy. In The Woman and Her Stars, we slip inside Caroline’s skin where all her emotions become ours.
As mentioned, I have always been fascinated by the stars as most dreamers are! But to see how Caroline’s passion for astronomy develops is interesting and even more how it goes beyond even her love of music and singing. Caroline is on a detour that will change her life. This new direction, though, was spurred on by a need to escape control from her mother. If she lives with her brother William, becomes useful to him, she won’t be sent back to nursing her difficult mother. The motive may have initially been a negative one but in the end, it forces her to move in a different direction to achieve a positive result. The trials make her stronger, wiser and lead her to reach beyond herself to new areas such as the stars and to discovering unknown heavenly bodies. This in turn gives her the recognition and independence she desires and deserves. Something unheard of in those days for women!
The author takes us on an in-depth study of Caroline’s character. Her journey of self discovery and confidence is a rough one. With so many cultural habits and views to overcome, it is hard for her to accept she is worthy of the fame she receives. She also misses out on love, even though she is briefly tempted. But her life, perceptions and successes are so tangled up with her brother William’s, that it becomes a snare for her feet as she tries to walk her own path. During one of her blind moments, her brother Alex makes a comment that is perceptive and true. He notes that even though she has fled Hanover to escape being her mother’s servant, she has now become her brother’s keeper and his assistant. So what has she gained? Has she traded one yoke for another? In her words ‘It is not the same…William has given me an education. I am not his servant. But I must remain useful to him if I’m to stay in England. I don’t want to go back to Hanover.’ This belief causes her to miss out on many things. But there is a moment of revelation at the end where she realises she does have a choice—even though women in those days had very little freedom and were governed by a male hierarchy. So many times I wanted Caroline to rebuke that system and fight for her rights but in the end I realised she was her own worst enemy or prisoner. Thankfully experience and time show her another path is possible.
Sadly, for a better part of her life she becomes so entwined with her brothers’ existence, dreams and accomplishments, when change comes, she does not know how to handle it. Or to sail on her own merit. This makes her angry, resentful and bitter. Until the one person in her life she loves the most has a terrible tragedy which forces her to mend her fences, look at her actions and attitudes and see what is really important. I don’t want to give away the plot so I won’t say what happens but it is easy to see why the drastic change that comes from an unexpected event could make her feel threatened and as though her whole world is falling apart.
I need to mention a canine character. Comet stole the scenes many times and added so much to Caroline’s life. He helped eased her loneliness and pain when she left Bath and her singing— to work with her brother in Datchet. She learned some hard lessons about the need for companionship—while coming to grips with Comet and his needs. Then another bigger challenge happens that exposes her low self-esteem. These issues possibly stem from the culture’s viewpoints of women at the time. Archaic society certainly fuelled her weakness but also scars she received as a child from an illness hindered her self image, too. There was so much stacked against her, even though she was a talented and smart woman. Her excellent stage singing helped her face people in the public. But she took a back step when she had to give it up to live with her older brother in a rural town. Where he went, she followed. He was her lifeline.
There are a number of engaging likeable characters who supported Caroline and her brothers Alex and William. There’s Mr Corden with his sincere friendship and constant rescue and assistance. And Dr. Watson’s with his life-saving knowledge and trustworthiness. Then the two women Margaret and Mary who enter the brother’s lives and prove to be supporters of Caroline and care about her even when she doubts them. Caroline’s insecurities become clear and why she resists these women’s friendship initially before change happens. On the flip side, there is the antagonist Miss Hudson who is self-serving, manipulative and a major opposition at times. She adds stress, frustration and worry to Caroline and William’s lives (and tension to the plot). I was often aligned with Caroline in her desire to put Miss Hudson in her place!
Love is a topic Caroline struggles with and not just romance or marital but also friendship. When Mary is pleading with Caroline to see reason she makes an excellent comparison. ‘Affection doesn’t come in limited quantities. It’s not like a bag of flour from the miller that gets used up. It’s, it’s…like the night sky. There’s no obvious end to it, no matter how powerful your instrument is. There is no limit to love.’ Caroline, at times, is harsh in her response to others. But this stems from her own lack of self-worth—and how she thinks everyone sees her. Using first names for Caroline is a no no… in her mind, you have to earn it.. to be considered a friend. And Mary tries hard to accomplish this. It takes a tragedy for Caroline to come to her senses and to see what is in front of her—not the dim, loveless world her mind believes.
Often references to astronomy, planets, etc are used by the characters to describe relationships. In a discussion Mary has with Caroline, she explains how William believes his sister is his equal. As Mary relates, when William and Caroline practice astronomy together—‘it is not always self-evident who of the two of you is the planet and who the moon.’ ‘…it isn’t always evident who orbits who.’ This stuns Caroline and is a turning point for her when she hears this.
Yes, the astronomy journey starts with Caroline’s brother. After he discovers planet Georgian Sidus, his name goes ‘to the top of the list of the world’s notable astronomers’ and he is awarded the Royal Society Copley Medal for discovery. But when Caroline also discovers new celestial bodies, her name becomes just as important. It is hard at first for her to believe she is more than her brother’s assistant. She may have learned from him but she has excelled and is an astronomer in her own right. And this new found victory made her known to a world that did not originally acknowledge women in this field (or any others).
This story, beautifully told by Penny Haw, made my heart sing and dream and appreciate even more the beauty of the stars and the ones who discovered them—particularly Caroline Herschel who came out of the shadows into the light. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to SourceBooks Landmark and Netgalley for the ARC.
November 4, 2025
Absolutely beautiful novel! Interesting, innovative and a new subject for me. I have always loved the stars, comets and astronomy. The main female character was innovative in discovery and truly inspiring.
December 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC of this excellent novel. I was inspired to read it after my fiance and I watched the PBS docu-series ‘Ancient Skies.’ I was searching through my NetGalley/Kindle libraries in an effort to discover an astronomy-related story, and upon seeing this book, I knew it was the right choice!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a space geek that minored in Anthropology, so Penny Haw's last two books have been right up my alley. Her latest addresses the former interest, as it is about Caroline Herschel, the first recognized female astronomer in England. Haw's book mainly covers her life during the late 1780s, when her brother was appointed as Royal Astronomer and Caroline made a transition from a passion of music to observing the night sky to continue living and working with her brother William (who was a discoverer of the planet Uranus).
Much as the topic interests (yay, women in astronomy!), I was a little reluctant to read it because I had read a previous book about Caroline Herschel, The Stargazer's Sister, by Carrie Brown. This book covered the full span of Caroline's life, and there were many parts of her life that weren't very happy. Her mother and one of her other brothers treated her more like a lowly servant than a daughter or sister.
The threat of having to go back to that life in Hanover is one of the opening themes in Haw's book. Caroline has settled in Bath with her older brother William and is passionate about the life she has as a musician. When William finds out that he has been appointed to be the Royal Astronomer, Caroline feels she too must take on the study of the sky, or risk William sending her back to Hanover.
The way Haw writes the transition feels a little rough, because she goes from trying to wheedle a way to continue to pursue music out of her brother, to digging in and being determined to master the field of astronomy, to sincerely falling in love with it. A more gradual transition of her feelings on the matter would have felt more natural.
In that time period, women were not regarded as being equally intelligent as men, most often were relegated to household tasks, and had almost no opportunity to pursue any form of knowledge or career. Lina (as her family members refer to Caroline) is luckier in some regards than most women of her time in that she is not only relegated to managing the household, though she is expected to do that too.
William may have been less provincial than most men of his time, but for most of the book told from Lina's perspective, he stills seems to regard her as more of an assistant capable of managing his notes and thoughts than as someone capable of making discoveries of her own. Haw did a great job of making me want to shake him as a modern woman when he wouldn't listen to her suggestions or regularly referred to her as his assistant, though she had acquired much of the same knowledge as him.
While constantly feeling threatened by the thought of returning to Hanover, of being mocked because of her appearance, and feeling underappreciated for her skills, Caroline is not a completely blameless heroine. She feels threatened by the wives of both of her brothers in England (Alex and William) and treats them poorly. Mr. Corden as well gets the cold shoulder, because she feels both an attraction to him and confusion on how to treat him because of their different class status.
How Lina handles William's marriage is complete conjecture by Haw, as Lina destroyed her personal records and correspondence from the beginning of their marriage, though I like the direction she takes in guessing what happened.
I still think Haw could do a better job of truly letting the reader feel the emotions and experiences of the historical female figures she writes about, which is probably the one hang-up I have with her stories. Otherwise, I'm thrilled to death that she chooses to pursue stories about real women that are not often told (and aren't connected to World War I or II!)
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Much as the topic interests (yay, women in astronomy!), I was a little reluctant to read it because I had read a previous book about Caroline Herschel, The Stargazer's Sister, by Carrie Brown. This book covered the full span of Caroline's life, and there were many parts of her life that weren't very happy. Her mother and one of her other brothers treated her more like a lowly servant than a daughter or sister.
The threat of having to go back to that life in Hanover is one of the opening themes in Haw's book. Caroline has settled in Bath with her older brother William and is passionate about the life she has as a musician. When William finds out that he has been appointed to be the Royal Astronomer, Caroline feels she too must take on the study of the sky, or risk William sending her back to Hanover.
The way Haw writes the transition feels a little rough, because she goes from trying to wheedle a way to continue to pursue music out of her brother, to digging in and being determined to master the field of astronomy, to sincerely falling in love with it. A more gradual transition of her feelings on the matter would have felt more natural.
In that time period, women were not regarded as being equally intelligent as men, most often were relegated to household tasks, and had almost no opportunity to pursue any form of knowledge or career. Lina (as her family members refer to Caroline) is luckier in some regards than most women of her time in that she is not only relegated to managing the household, though she is expected to do that too.
William may have been less provincial than most men of his time, but for most of the book told from Lina's perspective, he stills seems to regard her as more of an assistant capable of managing his notes and thoughts than as someone capable of making discoveries of her own. Haw did a great job of making me want to shake him as a modern woman when he wouldn't listen to her suggestions or regularly referred to her as his assistant, though she had acquired much of the same knowledge as him.
While constantly feeling threatened by the thought of returning to Hanover, of being mocked because of her appearance, and feeling underappreciated for her skills, Caroline is not a completely blameless heroine. She feels threatened by the wives of both of her brothers in England (Alex and William) and treats them poorly. Mr. Corden as well gets the cold shoulder, because she feels both an attraction to him and confusion on how to treat him because of their different class status.
How Lina handles William's marriage is complete conjecture by Haw, as Lina destroyed her personal records and correspondence from the beginning of their marriage, though I like the direction she takes in guessing what happened.
I still think Haw could do a better job of truly letting the reader feel the emotions and experiences of the historical female figures she writes about, which is probably the one hang-up I have with her stories. Otherwise, I'm thrilled to death that she chooses to pursue stories about real women that are not often told (and aren't connected to World War I or II!)
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Caroline Herschel really only wanted one thing – to make her brother proud so he wouldn’t send her back to their family in Hanover. When William’s main interest and success was in music, Caroline learned to sing with his orchestra. But when William’s interests turned to the skies and he was commissioned as the Royal Astronomer, Caroline quickly learned to help her brother build his telescopes and record his discoveries. But it was her own work in this field that would not only seal her place in history, but help salvage her brother’s reputation when a series of challenges befell his work, putting him behind schedule and at risk of losing his commission.
Penny Haw’s work as a historical biographer is on full display in her latest release The Woman and Her Stars, following the life of Caroline Herschel. From supporting character in her brother’s life to the star of her own show, Haw takes care to the influence and skill Caroline deployed throughout her life, despite her diminutive physical and societal stature. This impressive novel carries depth and detail that will bring readers back in time to the 18th century with an ease I have grown to love about Haw’s writing!
I give The Woman and Her Stars 4 out of 5 stars. Given the complexity of the science behind telescopes and astronomy, I was afraid I would be completely out of my element with this book, but Haw breaks it down in a way that readers of any amount of science background can enjoy. I also appreciate the way she explores the social requirements of the time, explaining them in a way that feels like part of the narrative. With that said, I found the late chapters frustrating for me – it felt like Caroline’s character was being held back and I’m not entirely sure that’s because of the circumstances of her life. It felt as though Haw was rushing some aspects of the storyline and may have left pieces out or ended too soon. As with all of Haw’s books I’ve read, I didn’t want to stop learning about Caroline’s life when this story ended and went looking for more immediately!
If you have always been fascinated by the heavens, this is a great book for you – Caroline is one of the firs female astronomers recognized by history and her works set the stage for equality in science. I would also recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Haw’s other works, or novels like Trace Enerson Wood’s The Wright Sister or Marie Benedict’s The Only Woman in the Room. With several mentions of King George III, this is also a wonderful glimpse of life both in court and the countryside during his reign for fans of Bridgerton and Hamilton, too.
Caroline Herschel really only wanted one thing – to make her brother proud so he wouldn’t send her back to their family in Hanover. When William’s main interest and success was in music, Caroline learned to sing with his orchestra. But when William’s interests turned to the skies and he was commissioned as the Royal Astronomer, Caroline quickly learned to help her brother build his telescopes and record his discoveries. But it was her own work in this field that would not only seal her place in history, but help salvage her brother’s reputation when a series of challenges befell his work, putting him behind schedule and at risk of losing his commission.
Penny Haw’s work as a historical biographer is on full display in her latest release The Woman and Her Stars, following the life of Caroline Herschel. From supporting character in her brother’s life to the star of her own show, Haw takes care to the influence and skill Caroline deployed throughout her life, despite her diminutive physical and societal stature. This impressive novel carries depth and detail that will bring readers back in time to the 18th century with an ease I have grown to love about Haw’s writing!
I give The Woman and Her Stars 4 out of 5 stars. Given the complexity of the science behind telescopes and astronomy, I was afraid I would be completely out of my element with this book, but Haw breaks it down in a way that readers of any amount of science background can enjoy. I also appreciate the way she explores the social requirements of the time, explaining them in a way that feels like part of the narrative. With that said, I found the late chapters frustrating for me – it felt like Caroline’s character was being held back and I’m not entirely sure that’s because of the circumstances of her life. It felt as though Haw was rushing some aspects of the storyline and may have left pieces out or ended too soon. As with all of Haw’s books I’ve read, I didn’t want to stop learning about Caroline’s life when this story ended and went looking for more immediately!
If you have always been fascinated by the heavens, this is a great book for you – Caroline is one of the firs female astronomers recognized by history and her works set the stage for equality in science. I would also recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Haw’s other works, or novels like Trace Enerson Wood’s The Wright Sister or Marie Benedict’s The Only Woman in the Room. With several mentions of King George III, this is also a wonderful glimpse of life both in court and the countryside during his reign for fans of Bridgerton and Hamilton, too.
November 19, 2025
As a young girl, my dream was to be an astronaut. While it was a short-lived dream, my love of astronomy has persisted. That is why I couldn't resist the opportunity to read The Woman and Her Stars. This is based on the true story of Caroline Herschel, one of the world's leading astronomers and a fantastic tribute to women in science.
As a reader, we are transported back to England during the late 1700s and early 1800s (Georgian era) and to the life of Caroline Herschel. Caroline's brother has been appointed the King's Astronomer, and she serves as his assistant. She soaks up all of this knowledge, only to discover her scientific abilities and achieve great things on her own, in a time that women's successes weren't always acknowledged. She is a story of setbacks and opportunities, hesitations and confidence.
The story is set in the rural areas near Windsor Castle, places like Old Windsor, Datchet and Slough. This was especially meaningful for me. I lived in this area for many years, so the imagery enhanced the reading experience. It's a joy to try and imagine a time that was quieter...no major roads, excessive cars, planes flying over the castle or numerous housing additions.
On a constructive note, I did find the story off to a slow start. This is always a worry, because readers might not stick with it. I felt the first half of the book could have used quicker pacing and many thoughts felt repetitive. Thankfully the pace picks up at the halfway point to reveal an inspiring story about a relatively unknown woman in history.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced digital copy via NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own. I'm looking forward to more books about lesser known women in history.
(3.5 stars rounded up - in hopes that there is a little more editing on the front end)
As a reader, we are transported back to England during the late 1700s and early 1800s (Georgian era) and to the life of Caroline Herschel. Caroline's brother has been appointed the King's Astronomer, and she serves as his assistant. She soaks up all of this knowledge, only to discover her scientific abilities and achieve great things on her own, in a time that women's successes weren't always acknowledged. She is a story of setbacks and opportunities, hesitations and confidence.
The story is set in the rural areas near Windsor Castle, places like Old Windsor, Datchet and Slough. This was especially meaningful for me. I lived in this area for many years, so the imagery enhanced the reading experience. It's a joy to try and imagine a time that was quieter...no major roads, excessive cars, planes flying over the castle or numerous housing additions.
On a constructive note, I did find the story off to a slow start. This is always a worry, because readers might not stick with it. I felt the first half of the book could have used quicker pacing and many thoughts felt repetitive. Thankfully the pace picks up at the halfway point to reveal an inspiring story about a relatively unknown woman in history.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced digital copy via NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own. I'm looking forward to more books about lesser known women in history.
(3.5 stars rounded up - in hopes that there is a little more editing on the front end)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Woman and Her Stars is a deeply inspiring story of boldness, perseverance, pain, and the quiet vulnerability that comes from feeling different in a world that prizes physical “normalcy.” Caroline Herschel lived under the weight of servitude and fear—the constant threat of being forced back into a life she had fought to escape—and that tension follows her throughout the story.
I deeply empathized with Caroline and the fears she carried. Her story was a painful reminder of what it meant to be a woman in historical times—and even more so, a woman marked by scars she did nothing to deserve. Despite the many hardships she endured, Caroline continued to believe, to hope, and to press forward. That resilience was truly awe-inspiring.
This book challenged me personally to keep fighting for my own dreams and not allow circumstances to discourage me. The setting was vividly drawn and beautifully rendered, and the characters felt real and grounded—made even more powerful by the fact that Caroline’s story is rooted in real life.
My only reservation was the pacing, which felt slow in places, with moments of heavy explanation that leaned more toward telling than showing. Even so, the emotional impact of the story remained strong.
Overall, this was a moving and heartfelt read. Caroline Herschel’s life is remarkable, and I’m grateful to Penny Haw for bringing her story and legacy to the page.
Thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I deeply empathized with Caroline and the fears she carried. Her story was a painful reminder of what it meant to be a woman in historical times—and even more so, a woman marked by scars she did nothing to deserve. Despite the many hardships she endured, Caroline continued to believe, to hope, and to press forward. That resilience was truly awe-inspiring.
This book challenged me personally to keep fighting for my own dreams and not allow circumstances to discourage me. The setting was vividly drawn and beautifully rendered, and the characters felt real and grounded—made even more powerful by the fact that Caroline’s story is rooted in real life.
My only reservation was the pacing, which felt slow in places, with moments of heavy explanation that leaned more toward telling than showing. Even so, the emotional impact of the story remained strong.
Overall, this was a moving and heartfelt read. Caroline Herschel’s life is remarkable, and I’m grateful to Penny Haw for bringing her story and legacy to the page.
Thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 22, 2025
I love it when authors “demystify the legend”, stripping away the layers of myth to reveal the flesh and blood beneath. It makes the story feel more grounded, relatable, and ultimately more powerful, because you see not just the legend, but the struggles, flaws, and choices that shaped them.
“The Woman and Her Stars” is the beautiful story of Caroline Herschel, William Herschel’s younger sister and an accomplished astronomer in her own right. Her discoveries of celestial bodies in 18th century England earned her the recognition of King George III and helped her obtain a salary as a scientist at a time in history when women barred from scientific societies.
In this book, we get a glimpse at Caroline’s life with William after he is appointed Court Astronomer. We get to learn about Caroline’s fears of not being enough – of a person, of a sister, of an astronomer – and how the people around her help her recognize the remarkable, accomplished individual she is becoming in her own right.
I gave it four stars because it felt like the story ended on a cliffhanger. I would have loved for the story to carry on at least until the garden party with the king, or the completion of the 40-footer telescope.
This book will appeal to readers interested in history, women in science, and overlooked pioneers.
“The Woman and Her Stars” is the beautiful story of Caroline Herschel, William Herschel’s younger sister and an accomplished astronomer in her own right. Her discoveries of celestial bodies in 18th century England earned her the recognition of King George III and helped her obtain a salary as a scientist at a time in history when women barred from scientific societies.
In this book, we get a glimpse at Caroline’s life with William after he is appointed Court Astronomer. We get to learn about Caroline’s fears of not being enough – of a person, of a sister, of an astronomer – and how the people around her help her recognize the remarkable, accomplished individual she is becoming in her own right.
I gave it four stars because it felt like the story ended on a cliffhanger. I would have loved for the story to carry on at least until the garden party with the king, or the completion of the 40-footer telescope.
This book will appeal to readers interested in history, women in science, and overlooked pioneers.
December 7, 2025
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I had never heard of Caroline Herschel. Such an inspiring woman, yet often unseen in both her time and ours. Thank you to Penny Haw for the introduction.
Caroline was sister to King George III’s Royal Astronomer, William Herschel. She was also an astronomer in her own right. Caroline oversaw the building and use of groundbreaking telescopes and discovered more than one never-before-seen heavenly body. She was exceptional, yet unknown.
It wasn’t just the era that contributed to Caroline’s lack of widespread acknowledgment. Driven by a fear of being returned home to Hanover (Germany), she took on the role of brother’s assistant and housekeeper with an air of silent resolve. She didn’t want to risk either asking or knowing too much. Yet, this submission was in complete opposition to her inherent inquisitive, driven, and headstrong nature.
We watch Caroline as she is torn between the need to defend her household place (especially against sisters-in-law) and her desire to rise above it all. What defines personhood, especially for a woman? A woman with aspirations beyond what society has prescribed?
I loved this book and read it in just a few sittings. It was educational and engaging. Historical fiction at its best.
I had never heard of Caroline Herschel. Such an inspiring woman, yet often unseen in both her time and ours. Thank you to Penny Haw for the introduction.
Caroline was sister to King George III’s Royal Astronomer, William Herschel. She was also an astronomer in her own right. Caroline oversaw the building and use of groundbreaking telescopes and discovered more than one never-before-seen heavenly body. She was exceptional, yet unknown.
It wasn’t just the era that contributed to Caroline’s lack of widespread acknowledgment. Driven by a fear of being returned home to Hanover (Germany), she took on the role of brother’s assistant and housekeeper with an air of silent resolve. She didn’t want to risk either asking or knowing too much. Yet, this submission was in complete opposition to her inherent inquisitive, driven, and headstrong nature.
We watch Caroline as she is torn between the need to defend her household place (especially against sisters-in-law) and her desire to rise above it all. What defines personhood, especially for a woman? A woman with aspirations beyond what society has prescribed?
I loved this book and read it in just a few sittings. It was educational and engaging. Historical fiction at its best.
October 1, 2025
The Woman and Her Stars by Penny Haw
Caroline Herschel lives in the shadow of her older brother, William, and when he turns to the stars, she is obliged to follow him. William becomes the King's Astronomer, and the siblings relocate to Windsor, where Caroline becomes William’s humble assistant.
The novel is set in the Georgian era and shines a light on a woman destined to become one of the world’s leading astronomers. On her journey of self-discovery, Caroline is compelled to reassess family ties and her own self-doubt.
Penny Haw demystifies the iconic Caroline Herschel and draws the readers into her intriguing night sky. As we are bewitched by the stars, we are also inspired to question our own journeys.
Haw’s meticulous research and evocative writing propel us into her protagonist’s multi-layered inner world.
The award winning author of The Invincible Miss Cust, The Woman at the Wheel, and Follow me to Africa has penned another inspirational story about an incredible woman.
If you have ever doubted yourself and your abilities, then this novel will have you mulling over things … as I am.
Take a bow, Penny Haw!
(I had the privilege of reading this novel pre-launch date.)
Caroline Herschel lives in the shadow of her older brother, William, and when he turns to the stars, she is obliged to follow him. William becomes the King's Astronomer, and the siblings relocate to Windsor, where Caroline becomes William’s humble assistant.
The novel is set in the Georgian era and shines a light on a woman destined to become one of the world’s leading astronomers. On her journey of self-discovery, Caroline is compelled to reassess family ties and her own self-doubt.
Penny Haw demystifies the iconic Caroline Herschel and draws the readers into her intriguing night sky. As we are bewitched by the stars, we are also inspired to question our own journeys.
Haw’s meticulous research and evocative writing propel us into her protagonist’s multi-layered inner world.
The award winning author of The Invincible Miss Cust, The Woman at the Wheel, and Follow me to Africa has penned another inspirational story about an incredible woman.
If you have ever doubted yourself and your abilities, then this novel will have you mulling over things … as I am.
Take a bow, Penny Haw!
(I had the privilege of reading this novel pre-launch date.)
December 2, 2025
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
First, Penny Haw is becoming one of my favorite authors! I have read several of her book and enjoyed every one of them. Her writing brings women in history alive! This story takes place in the 18th century, when women didn't really have any rights. Even though Caroline Herschel wanted to be an astronomer, she was overshadowed by her brother William. She was expected to be only his assistant. In spite of these circumstances, she persevered and became one of the world's leading astronomers. Her story was so interesting, and I learned a lot about the science of astronomy. I highly recommend this book! I can't wait to read the next book by Penny Haw. This one is a masterpiece!
First, Penny Haw is becoming one of my favorite authors! I have read several of her book and enjoyed every one of them. Her writing brings women in history alive! This story takes place in the 18th century, when women didn't really have any rights. Even though Caroline Herschel wanted to be an astronomer, she was overshadowed by her brother William. She was expected to be only his assistant. In spite of these circumstances, she persevered and became one of the world's leading astronomers. Her story was so interesting, and I learned a lot about the science of astronomy. I highly recommend this book! I can't wait to read the next book by Penny Haw. This one is a masterpiece!
December 23, 2025
I really enjoyed learning about theses historical characters that I knew nothing about. Caroline Herschel is a fascinating character full of complexity as she aspires to do something no other woman had done up to that point; be an astronomer. It was neat learning about all that went in to designing, finding people that make the different aspects of the structure, assembling it. I was frustrated at the grudges Caroline held, but also could understand the trauma that would make it challenging to accept change. My biggest issue was the way the book ended, which was with not a lot of closure on very big storylines! I was actually shocked when it went to Authors Note and said "WHAT?!" aloud (my husband looked at me strange). Overall, I love a good historical fiction and I did enjoy it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC copy.
October 7, 2025
This was an excellent book about an exceptional woman. As a woman desiring to be known as an astronomer, Caroline Herschel had the odds stacked against her. Add in the emotional scars that ran far deeper than any physical scars, and those odds seemed insurmountable. I enjoyed following her journey from singer to assistant to the king's astronomer to astronomer in her own right. Caroline lived on these pages as a flawed, vulnerable, passionate, and, most of all, real person. I would have enjoyed reading even more about her and her career, though I do understand the choice to end the story where it did.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and to NetGalley for the early read.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and to NetGalley for the early read.
November 24, 2025
I enjoyed the book. It was a well-paced story with great character development. While it was a comprehensive look at a specific part of Caroline Herschel’s life, it never got bogged down in minutiae. And it managed to communicate a good deal about Caroline’s brother, William, a more famous astronomer. Penny Haw managed to keep the book fascinating without resorting to melodrama: I found the book exciting and calming at the same time. I also found some of the writing particularly clever and worthy of re-reading. Overall this is a great novel and history of science. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I admit, I requested this book because of the cover and how romantic it looked. It is however, not a regency romance. Some of the parts were inspiring where there was a woman in academia that chose not to be married. But most of the parts were a little sad especially where I went down a rabbit hole to figure out how many women in STEM that were only included in history based on their help to a man. Very well researched and based on a real person. Could have used a fictional chili pepper to offset how unloved she felt in life.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.
November 9, 2025
A fascinating glimpse into the life of Caroline Herschel, whose brother William became the King's Astronomer and was feted for his work. Caroline, at first in his shadow, helped her brother by taking notes, but was able to progress to being an astronomer in her own right, which was unheard of at the time (as with most fields women were noticable by their absence).
An enjoyable and informative read.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
An enjoyable and informative read.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
December 6, 2025
A lovely and absorbing novel about a fascinating character. The author really brings Caroline and William Hershel to life in all their complicated human glory. I did find the ending a bit abrupt and would have lovez for the book to have been a bit longer.
With thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebook Landmarks for this ARC.
With thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebook Landmarks for this ARC.
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