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Astronaut!
Romania, 1989: a grey place of mysterious queues, ubiquitous informers and daily news flashes about a man-eating bear that is terrorising the country.
Amidst the daily drudge of work, rationing and careful conversation with neighbours, two lives unexpectedly collide when an idealistic police detective, Constantin, is tasked with solving a string of grisly murders, and a rebellious school child, Lia, is unwittingly drawn into her elderly neighbour's seditious plot.
Dryly satirical, incredibly tense and deeply moving, ASTRONAUT! is both a detective novel and a coming-of-age tale, one with a perennially relevant the lies we accept today become the truths of tomorrow.
Amidst the daily drudge of work, rationing and careful conversation with neighbours, two lives unexpectedly collide when an idealistic police detective, Constantin, is tasked with solving a string of grisly murders, and a rebellious school child, Lia, is unwittingly drawn into her elderly neighbour's seditious plot.
Dryly satirical, incredibly tense and deeply moving, ASTRONAUT! is both a detective novel and a coming-of-age tale, one with a perennially relevant the lies we accept today become the truths of tomorrow.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
July 22, 2026
I think that when you are a child, even if you are poor, even if you live in a dictatorship, you still have that curiosity for the unknown or the future that you can't see in the adults around you because they have been "educated" and understand the dangers of the world they are living in.
'Astronaut!' captures both the reality of living in Romania during the criminal regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu and the rebellious nature of childhood through Lia, a schoolgirl who by mistake gets her parents involved in a murder investigation with political connotations.
As a Romanian, I imagine that I may be the hardest audience for this because I am familiar with the world that this novel now shows to a larger audience. And because of that, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and I am curious how international audiences will respond to it.
For me, despite the familiarity of the subject, it was a page turner that shows the absurdities of that time, without simplifying our history. Highly recommended. If you can't quite believe the story about the bear in this novel, I recommend Cristian Mungiu's movie 'Tales from the Golden Age'.
'Astronaut!' captures both the reality of living in Romania during the criminal regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu and the rebellious nature of childhood through Lia, a schoolgirl who by mistake gets her parents involved in a murder investigation with political connotations.
As a Romanian, I imagine that I may be the hardest audience for this because I am familiar with the world that this novel now shows to a larger audience. And because of that, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and I am curious how international audiences will respond to it.
For me, despite the familiarity of the subject, it was a page turner that shows the absurdities of that time, without simplifying our history. Highly recommended. If you can't quite believe the story about the bear in this novel, I recommend Cristian Mungiu's movie 'Tales from the Golden Age'.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4,5
Fantastic new novel set in Romania 1989, about the absurdities of totalitarianism and a society in which any neighbour or colleague can be an informer.
The main character is Lia, a little blabbermouth who can't help getting herself into trouble. She notices the world is gradually losing its colour and is determined to bring it back. When she accidentally wins a drawing contest she shouldn't have won (because her classmate Dora whose parents are high up in the Party was supposed to win) the prize is a meet and greet with Ceausescu himself.
A second storyline is that of detective Constantin, who is put in charge of the investigation into a gruesome murder, which soon turns out to be the first of many. Is there a serial killer on the loose, or is it perhaps more convenient to blame a bear?
I love this very much, a smart plot is combined with humour. Astronaut! (i.e. not kosmonaut) has some of the absurdity and humour of Catch-22 and the warm atmosphere of Mariana Leky.
I have some Romanian friends and lately nothing excites them more than bear stories - it's a real thing.
I am pencilling this down for the Booker longlist - it could be the "Endling" of 2026.
Fantastic new novel set in Romania 1989, about the absurdities of totalitarianism and a society in which any neighbour or colleague can be an informer.
The main character is Lia, a little blabbermouth who can't help getting herself into trouble. She notices the world is gradually losing its colour and is determined to bring it back. When she accidentally wins a drawing contest she shouldn't have won (because her classmate Dora whose parents are high up in the Party was supposed to win) the prize is a meet and greet with Ceausescu himself.
A second storyline is that of detective Constantin, who is put in charge of the investigation into a gruesome murder, which soon turns out to be the first of many. Is there a serial killer on the loose, or is it perhaps more convenient to blame a bear?
I love this very much, a smart plot is combined with humour. Astronaut! (i.e. not kosmonaut) has some of the absurdity and humour of Catch-22 and the warm atmosphere of Mariana Leky.
I have some Romanian friends and lately nothing excites them more than bear stories - it's a real thing.
I am pencilling this down for the Booker longlist - it could be the "Endling" of 2026.
April 29, 2026
This powerful novel vividly captures the suffocating reality of life under a dictatorship in 1980s Romania. Following Lia, a brave little girl longing for the lost "colors" of her country, was an incredibly emotional experience. I felt a deep urge to reach through the pages and protect her. This is a thought-provoking reminder of the true value of freedom.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A marvellous depiction by Aristide. I very very eagerly kept returning to my audiobook to listen to more Lia, to more Constantin, to more fairy tales, to more naked emperors cavorting around in the nakedness trying to force us to believe that they are dressed.
But such a naked narrative with all it's omnivorous violence and bluster leaves subject people without hope, without colour, without joy, with constant fear that now shapes their feelings, their thoughts, their lives. Where the ultimate is inching forward in a food queue or fighting whether to use cosmonaut or astronaut.
and as Lia would say "but whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"
An ARC gently provided by author/publisher via Netgalley.
But such a naked narrative with all it's omnivorous violence and bluster leaves subject people without hope, without colour, without joy, with constant fear that now shapes their feelings, their thoughts, their lives. Where the ultimate is inching forward in a food queue or fighting whether to use cosmonaut or astronaut.
and as Lia would say "but whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"
An ARC gently provided by author/publisher via Netgalley.
August 30, 2026
Непоганий детектив, дія якого відбувається в Румунії часів Чаушеску. Зʼявляється серійний вбивця, а поліція каже що то ведмідь.
Головних героїв два, а точніше два с половиною - дівчинка Лія, наївна і щира, в якої весь час проблеми в школі, бо вона вибивається з колективу, і поліцейський Константин, який пише зеленим чорнилом цікаві казочки для свого сина. І епоха, звісно.
Хто жив в совку згадає багато чого. Цікаво, міцненько, але без вау. Обкладинка дуже вдала.
Головних героїв два, а точніше два с половиною - дівчинка Лія, наївна і щира, в якої весь час проблеми в школі, бо вона вибивається з колективу, і поліцейський Константин, який пише зеленим чорнилом цікаві казочки для свого сина. І епоха, звісно.
Хто жив в совку згадає багато чого. Цікаво, міцненько, але без вау. Обкладинка дуже вдала.
July 23, 2026
Romanas man turėjo būti mažų mažiausiai „pusė velnio“. Veiksmas vyksta paskutiniais Rumunijos monstro Ceaușescu valdymo metais, kuomet kaip ir visose socialistinio lagerio respublikose, čia vyko vidinis pasipriešinimo judėjimas. Iš pradžių pasakojimas labai įtraukė, šiek tiek priminė ukrainiečių rašytojo Andrejaus Kurkovo istorinę detektyvų seriją „Kijevo paslaptys“ (angl. Kyiv Mysteries). Knygoje buvo tikrai neblogų įžvalgų, pavyzdžiui, apie tuometį visuomenės bespalviškumą, autentiškų gyvenimo tokioje santvarkoje aprašymų. Tačiau įpusėjus pradėjau piktintis. Autorės sprendimas pasinaudoti naiviu ir smalsiu vaiku rengiant pasikėsinimą nužudyti šalies vadovą man pasirodė daugiau nei keistas. Parašyta tikrai neblogai, bet tokiai satyrai (?) pasitelkti vaiką – per daug drastiška mano skoniui.
2,5*
2,5*
August 20, 2026
Never expected one of my favorite reads of the year would be a treatise on authoritarianism focusing on a Romanian police inspector investigating a serial killer authorities attribute to bear attacks and a precocious schoolgirl desperate for the world to have more color. Astronaut! is frequently hilarious and always moving. An utterly brilliant novel.
August 5, 2026
Did I choose this book almost entirely based on the cover? Yes, I did. It's a great cover, and it has so much meaning to the actual story. I loved this book, definitely a top read of 2026.
August 24, 2026
Astronaut! strikes a magical-feeling balance between being funny and serious. The perils of life in communist Romania are told through the eyes of a young child, and although the situations she finds herself in a really dangerous much of this story feels like a great adventure. I really love reading about life under communist governments in Europe and it was really refreshing to see this kind of story told in a different way. So glad I picked this one up on a whim, it's really stuck with me.
August 11, 2026
Astronaut is a great story with excellent characters that illuminates what it’s like to exist or try to be a professional in a totalitarian society. Lia is an elementary school student who can’t help being seditious and is constantly in trouble and scaring her parents. Her antics are charming. The other protagonist, Constantin, is a detective trying to cope with being the only person with integrity in a system and society that lacks any sense of ethics. His conversations are full of gallows humor and his chapters end with him sharing the fables he writes at bedtime with his son (all of which feel fresh and one in particular—the shame flower—is excellent).
It seems like it’s a paradox that there is any sense of a justice system in a dictatorship, but modern totalitarianism seems to require the facade of laws. Regardless, this is an accessible look at 20th century Romania that depicts the daily ridiculousness of a broken country.
It seems like it’s a paradox that there is any sense of a justice system in a dictatorship, but modern totalitarianism seems to require the facade of laws. Regardless, this is an accessible look at 20th century Romania that depicts the daily ridiculousness of a broken country.
April 12, 2026
Communist Romania seen from a perspective of 8 year old Lia, who wants to add colour, while simultaneously there's a wild man eater bear on the loose, but is it really a bear?
Interesting take on propaganda and totalitarianism. I especially liked the scene where Lia has to stand in line for hours, because someone heard there'll be a chicken in shop, because my parents told me many times how they had to do that too.
The audiobook narrators were good!
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Interesting take on propaganda and totalitarianism. I especially liked the scene where Lia has to stand in line for hours, because someone heard there'll be a chicken in shop, because my parents told me many times how they had to do that too.
The audiobook narrators were good!
Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Astronaut by Oana Aristide
Thank you to NetGalley and Oana Aristide for providing both the audiobook (narrated by Rosalind Lailey) and the e-book advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1989 Romania, just months before the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu and the eruption of the Romanian Revolution, Astronaut follows two seemingly separate lives: Lia, a young girl whose imagination stretches far beyond the grey confines of her world, and Constantin, a disciplined detective tasked with trying to catch what appears to be a serial killer... As unrest quietly builds across the country, Lia retreats into stories of space and possibility, while Constantin methodically pieces together a case that carries emotional consequences. The novel gradually reveals how their worlds are connected but it does so with restraint and care.
What makes this book different is its tonal balance. This isn’t simply historical fiction, nor is it purely a detective story. It’s a meditation on imagination and how it protects us, shapes us, and sometimes exposes us. Lia’s innocence never feels sentimental; it feels necessary. Constantin’s investigative precision is grounded, yet softened by the imaginative bedtime stories he tells his son, Sandu. (These were my favourite!) The contrast between a child trying to make sense of her environment and a man trying to impose order on it gives the novel emotional tension that feels both intimate and political.
Readers should care because the stakes are human rather than sensational. The backdrop of late-communist Romania... rationing, fear of the Securitate, whispered dissent isn’t just historical colour; it presses in on every character decision. Aristide doesn’t overwhelm with exposition, but the sense of a country on the brink adds quiet urgency throughout. The story hooks you not through twists, but through emotional convergence and the slow realisation that innocence and investigation are moving toward one another.
Experiencing this through both audio and print deepened the impact. Rosalind Lailey’s narration is measured and emotionally intelligent, with pacing that allows tension to build naturally. Her Romanian accent felt authentic to me and never distracting... instead, it enriched the atmosphere and grounded the setting. The audiobook particularly elevates Lia’s chapters, capturing vulnerability without overplaying it. By the end, Aristide ties the dual perspectives together in a way that feels earned, thoughtful, and quietly powerful.
#Astronaut #NetGalley
March 4, 2026
A moving and darkly humorous coming-of-age story that had me highly entertained throughout! Have never read a book set in communist Romania and I’m not sure what I expected, but I loved this. Perfect balance of weird and touching. Lia was such a well written protagonist!! If you’re looking for a satirical detective novel with hidden depth and important themes, definitely pick this one up. 🐻 🎒 The narrator was also fabulous. Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the ARC 🎧
July 24, 2026
Astronaut! by Oana Aristide — ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I went into this book aware of Ceaușescu-era Romania only in the vaguest, peripheral way — a piece of history I'd heard of but never really sat inside. Astronaut! pulled me all the way in.
The novel follows two threads. Lia is a schoolgirl with an almost obsessive longing for color, who befriends an elderly man in her building and gets unwittingly swept into his plot against the regime. Constantin is a police detective investigating a string of deaths officially blamed on a man-eating bear, trying to hold onto his own sanity while writing dark fairy tales for his young son — stories meant to prepare the boy for the world he's growing up into. The two threads slowly braid together as the book goes on.
Lia is the heart of it for me. She reads as a kind of embodied innocence — someone reaching for a brighter future, willing to rebel in small, sometimes childish ways that make total sense once you remember she's still just a kid figuring out the world. Aristide renders the setting almost entirely in gray, white, and black, and that absence of color isn't just described — it's something you feel on every page. That's the book's real achievement for me.
The book is bleak and tense and absurd from start to finish. My one real critique is the old man' Comrade Mantea's subplot: his plot against the government is fairly easy to guess ahead of time, and the reveal landed pretty much where I'd already predicted.
Even so, this was a tense, absorbing read I stayed with the whole way through.
I went into this book aware of Ceaușescu-era Romania only in the vaguest, peripheral way — a piece of history I'd heard of but never really sat inside. Astronaut! pulled me all the way in.
The novel follows two threads. Lia is a schoolgirl with an almost obsessive longing for color, who befriends an elderly man in her building and gets unwittingly swept into his plot against the regime. Constantin is a police detective investigating a string of deaths officially blamed on a man-eating bear, trying to hold onto his own sanity while writing dark fairy tales for his young son — stories meant to prepare the boy for the world he's growing up into. The two threads slowly braid together as the book goes on.
Lia is the heart of it for me. She reads as a kind of embodied innocence — someone reaching for a brighter future, willing to rebel in small, sometimes childish ways that make total sense once you remember she's still just a kid figuring out the world. Aristide renders the setting almost entirely in gray, white, and black, and that absence of color isn't just described — it's something you feel on every page. That's the book's real achievement for me.
The book is bleak and tense and absurd from start to finish. My one real critique is the old man' Comrade Mantea's subplot: his plot against the government is fairly easy to guess ahead of time, and the reveal landed pretty much where I'd already predicted.
Even so, this was a tense, absorbing read I stayed with the whole way through.
August 4, 2026
An EXTRAORDINARY debut. Great story,several layers,thought provoking, wonderful chacracters.
February 5, 2026
Astronaut! is a compelling and vivid historical novel that combines suspense, satire, and poignant character study against the last days of Communist Romania. Set in a grey, tightly controlled world of rationing, informers, and state propaganda, the story follows two unlikely protagonists whose lives intersect in meaningful ways.
Constantin is an idealistic police detective tasked with investigating a series of grisly murders. He is thoughtful and introspective, juggling the weight of his job with scribbled fairytales for his young child. Lia, a spirited and perceptive schoolgirl, yearns for colour and freedom in a society that demands conformity. By chance, she becomes involved in her elderly neighbour’s secret plot against the regime.
Aristide breathes life into late-Communist Romania, capturing both the absurdities of everyday life under authoritarian rule and the small acts of resistance that define her characters. The narrative deftly balances the tension of a detective plot with the coming-of-age experiences of Lia and the moral complexities faced by Constantin, creating a layered and engaging read.
The novel explores how individuals navigate fear, truth, and loyalty in a world where even simple conversations can carry risk. It’s deeply moving and occasionally wryly funny, showing how hope and resilience persist even in the bleakest contexts.
Overall, Astronaut! is a richly imagined story that stays with you, offering insight into a turbulent period of history through memorable characters and a propulsive, thoughtful plot.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Constantin is an idealistic police detective tasked with investigating a series of grisly murders. He is thoughtful and introspective, juggling the weight of his job with scribbled fairytales for his young child. Lia, a spirited and perceptive schoolgirl, yearns for colour and freedom in a society that demands conformity. By chance, she becomes involved in her elderly neighbour’s secret plot against the regime.
Aristide breathes life into late-Communist Romania, capturing both the absurdities of everyday life under authoritarian rule and the small acts of resistance that define her characters. The narrative deftly balances the tension of a detective plot with the coming-of-age experiences of Lia and the moral complexities faced by Constantin, creating a layered and engaging read.
The novel explores how individuals navigate fear, truth, and loyalty in a world where even simple conversations can carry risk. It’s deeply moving and occasionally wryly funny, showing how hope and resilience persist even in the bleakest contexts.
Overall, Astronaut! is a richly imagined story that stays with you, offering insight into a turbulent period of history through memorable characters and a propulsive, thoughtful plot.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
August 1, 2026
Rounded up from 4.5.
This was such an interesting story, told through two very different perspectives of characters impacted by the totalitarian regime of late-80s Romania. While Lia, a schoolgirl, befriends an eccentric neighbor, longs for a bicycle, and plots to ask Ceaușescu to return colors to the world, Constantin, a detective, is embroiled in a search for a local serial killer--while his superiors blame the murders on a bear for lack of a better suspect. At once absurd and touching, the book deftly illustrates the bleakness of Romanian life during this era. As I read, I deeply felt innocent Lia’s confusion about the state of the world alongside Constantin’s desperate hope for a better future for his son--while also seeing it as a cautionary tale to not let history repeat itself.
This was such an interesting story, told through two very different perspectives of characters impacted by the totalitarian regime of late-80s Romania. While Lia, a schoolgirl, befriends an eccentric neighbor, longs for a bicycle, and plots to ask Ceaușescu to return colors to the world, Constantin, a detective, is embroiled in a search for a local serial killer--while his superiors blame the murders on a bear for lack of a better suspect. At once absurd and touching, the book deftly illustrates the bleakness of Romanian life during this era. As I read, I deeply felt innocent Lia’s confusion about the state of the world alongside Constantin’s desperate hope for a better future for his son--while also seeing it as a cautionary tale to not let history repeat itself.
March 14, 2026
Eight-year-old Lia totally charmed me in Oana Aristide’s excellent piece of historical fiction about life in Ceausescu’s Romania. Seeing events unfold through her eyes and her attempts to rationalise them was innocent, uplifting and heartbreaking. I remember the fall of this regime, their total indifference to mass genocide and the dreadful reports about the treatment of children in orphanages (I don’t think I’ll ever forget that news footage), contrasted with the ridiculous collection of fur coats Elena Ceausescu owned, when her people were starving and in poverty.
I also enjoyed the relationship between detective Constantin and his young son, especially the nightly fairy stories, which had a fable-like quality and were his way of helping his son see the truth in what was going on around them.
Another favourite character was Lia’s elderly neighbour, whom she befriends in secret, and who gradually becomes more deranged as the plot advances.
It’s a sobering story which reimagines the end of a dreadful regime, beautifully brought to life by Rosalind Lailey’s empathetic narration.
Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio for a chance to listen to an ALC. Astronaut publishes on 26 March.
I also enjoyed the relationship between detective Constantin and his young son, especially the nightly fairy stories, which had a fable-like quality and were his way of helping his son see the truth in what was going on around them.
Another favourite character was Lia’s elderly neighbour, whom she befriends in secret, and who gradually becomes more deranged as the plot advances.
It’s a sobering story which reimagines the end of a dreadful regime, beautifully brought to life by Rosalind Lailey’s empathetic narration.
Five stars from me, with thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio for a chance to listen to an ALC. Astronaut publishes on 26 March.
August 15, 2026
Funny book dialogue and relationships between characters. I enjoyed reading it. Provides insight to what life was like in socialist society in the 1980s in Romania. Shreeya gave to me!
July 22, 2026
A precocious little girl growing up in a totalitarian regime asks the wrong questions, makes questionable decisions and manages to get herself in all kinds of trouble as she navigates everyday life. Meanwhile Konstantin investigates a grisly series of deaths that seem a political inconvenience as well as an intriguing mystery. A dark but funny novel that really does an excellent job of building tension and has an incomparable and fascinating eyes view of the absurdity and incongruity of a dictatorship rule and it's contradictions! Two engaging and flawed characters lead the charge through this excellent read.
July 5, 2026
Interesting read. It held my attention for the most part, although I did find it hard to get into at times.
I enjoyed learning more about what life would have been like during this time, and under a communist regime. The relationships between characters was well done.
For some reason I was confused at the end, and had to re-read the final chapter to figure it all out. I think I'm in the minority here though.
I enjoyed learning more about what life would have been like during this time, and under a communist regime. The relationships between characters was well done.
For some reason I was confused at the end, and had to re-read the final chapter to figure it all out. I think I'm in the minority here though.
July 26, 2026
I know it’s a good book because I didn’t even consider docking points for the most annoying child protagonist I’ve ever seen. Self-consciously annoying, but still! Grinch mode activated.
We’re a few months before the fall of the Ceausescu regime in Romania in 1989 and a police detective is trying to investigate a serial killer in a country where criminals aren’t allowed to exist (criminals are a capitalist thing after all). Unable to warn the public of the actual danger, the police comes up with a great idea - they’ll blame the killings on a murderous bear!
Meanwhile, the world’s most annoying child is constantly butting against the repressive society she’s trapped in, calling kosmonauts astronauts (seditious), hanging out with known political agitators (dangerous), and trying to buy stuff at a security service informant’s store using foreign currency (plain stupid). Honestly, she never stops. If she’d lived in Stalin’s Russia, she would’ve gotten her entire apartment block sent to the gulag with what she gets up to.
It’s not really a police procedural - we don’t get any clues on what the murders are about until very late in the book when the pace really picks up, which I would’ve normally complained about, but this just isn’t the narrative’s focus. It’s about the absurdity and soul crushing nature of living in a totalitarian system and the ways people are forced to repress themselves and others to survive.
The characters are great (I loved the annoying girl’s exasperated parents who keep trying and failing to convince her not to get them sent to prison) and it’s a pretty quick read that really places you in the middle of a dictatorship that kind of flies under the radar compared to the USSR and other contemporary regimes.
The only thing I wasn’t too sure about was the ending - , but that’s barely a complaint really, I understood why it served the book’s narrative arc. Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this overall.
We’re a few months before the fall of the Ceausescu regime in Romania in 1989 and a police detective is trying to investigate a serial killer in a country where criminals aren’t allowed to exist (criminals are a capitalist thing after all). Unable to warn the public of the actual danger, the police comes up with a great idea - they’ll blame the killings on a murderous bear!
Meanwhile, the world’s most annoying child is constantly butting against the repressive society she’s trapped in, calling kosmonauts astronauts (seditious), hanging out with known political agitators (dangerous), and trying to buy stuff at a security service informant’s store using foreign currency (plain stupid). Honestly, she never stops. If she’d lived in Stalin’s Russia, she would’ve gotten her entire apartment block sent to the gulag with what she gets up to.
It’s not really a police procedural - we don’t get any clues on what the murders are about until very late in the book when the pace really picks up, which I would’ve normally complained about, but this just isn’t the narrative’s focus. It’s about the absurdity and soul crushing nature of living in a totalitarian system and the ways people are forced to repress themselves and others to survive.
The characters are great (I loved the annoying girl’s exasperated parents who keep trying and failing to convince her not to get them sent to prison) and it’s a pretty quick read that really places you in the middle of a dictatorship that kind of flies under the radar compared to the USSR and other contemporary regimes.
The only thing I wasn’t too sure about was the ending - , but that’s barely a complaint really, I understood why it served the book’s narrative arc. Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this overall.
June 7, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
What a delightful yet harrowing book. This is historical fiction set in the Romanian dictatorship on the 1980s. I have read Ruta Sepyts novel I Must Betray You - so I was somewhat familiar with the history. This definitely seems to take liberties, in a whimsical fashion.
This follows a little girl who loves colors and her getting roped into a scheme with an older neighbor that she doesn’t understand the consequences of. Also there is a string of murders that a fairy-tale writing Police officer is in charge of solving.
This had some really sweet moments while also highlighting the absolute madness that exists in a communist regime where everyone is happy to snitch on anyone. The issues the parents in this book face really had me reflecting. How do you explain something like that to a child. We could be arrested and taken away from you just because of a silly story you tell or a picture you drew 😓 how do you keep a child safe and preserve them on that environment?
Great book that was comical but serious all at the same time.
What a delightful yet harrowing book. This is historical fiction set in the Romanian dictatorship on the 1980s. I have read Ruta Sepyts novel I Must Betray You - so I was somewhat familiar with the history. This definitely seems to take liberties, in a whimsical fashion.
This follows a little girl who loves colors and her getting roped into a scheme with an older neighbor that she doesn’t understand the consequences of. Also there is a string of murders that a fairy-tale writing Police officer is in charge of solving.
This had some really sweet moments while also highlighting the absolute madness that exists in a communist regime where everyone is happy to snitch on anyone. The issues the parents in this book face really had me reflecting. How do you explain something like that to a child. We could be arrested and taken away from you just because of a silly story you tell or a picture you drew 😓 how do you keep a child safe and preserve them on that environment?
Great book that was comical but serious all at the same time.
July 20, 2026
I do not normally like satire but this was delicious. The author was born and lived in Romania until its independence.
The setting is Romania near the end of the Ceausescu dictatorship. Informants are ubiquitous. Fear is rampart. A young girl - Lia - wants to buy her mother a yellow vase for her birthday. She takes a German bill from the family's stash (knowing it is what is needed to obtain special things) and heads to the store. But to her shock the storeowner marches her home and confronts her mother about the money. Lia has no idea what is wrong but her mother agrees to the storeowner's terms to avoid him telling the authorities. So opens the book.
Then the scene changes to another town and a police detective - Constantin - whose assigned to solve the murder of a man by many cuts. His friend, the coroner, Titus says they resemble cuts made by hooks. Then it turns out there have been other unusual killings by hook-like stabs around the country. Constantin finds himself the "lead investigator." Constantin believes the public should be warned but his boss says no. Instead, the public is informed that a bear is on a rampage killing people and care needs to be taken.
Eventually the stories overlap. Great historical fiction in a quite innovative format.
The setting is Romania near the end of the Ceausescu dictatorship. Informants are ubiquitous. Fear is rampart. A young girl - Lia - wants to buy her mother a yellow vase for her birthday. She takes a German bill from the family's stash (knowing it is what is needed to obtain special things) and heads to the store. But to her shock the storeowner marches her home and confronts her mother about the money. Lia has no idea what is wrong but her mother agrees to the storeowner's terms to avoid him telling the authorities. So opens the book.
Then the scene changes to another town and a police detective - Constantin - whose assigned to solve the murder of a man by many cuts. His friend, the coroner, Titus says they resemble cuts made by hooks. Then it turns out there have been other unusual killings by hook-like stabs around the country. Constantin finds himself the "lead investigator." Constantin believes the public should be warned but his boss says no. Instead, the public is informed that a bear is on a rampage killing people and care needs to be taken.
Eventually the stories overlap. Great historical fiction in a quite innovative format.
September 1, 2026
I found this book hugely engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. There is so much to appreciate - the setting is Romania during Ceausescu’s rule, and the story weaves together two perspectives that ultimately converge. The first, a bright child who repeatedly finds herself in trouble, and the other a police officer tasked with investigating when first one body is found, and then many more.
The characters were so real, and I particularly loved eight year old Lia’s innocence, and her indignation. She had such a wonderful sense of how things should be, and a naive belief they somehow would be. This contrasted with other characters who better understood the risks of going against the awful regime; the bleakness of their lives, and the restrictions they experienced felt so real. Lia’s struggle to understand the world and to figure out who she could trust really came through, and the adult perspectives were equally powerful.
The fairytales that Constantin wrote for his son were beautiful, and I could happily have read even more of them. I would also have liked to know more about what had happened before, to him and his family.
The characters were so real, and I particularly loved eight year old Lia’s innocence, and her indignation. She had such a wonderful sense of how things should be, and a naive belief they somehow would be. This contrasted with other characters who better understood the risks of going against the awful regime; the bleakness of their lives, and the restrictions they experienced felt so real. Lia’s struggle to understand the world and to figure out who she could trust really came through, and the adult perspectives were equally powerful.
The fairytales that Constantin wrote for his son were beautiful, and I could happily have read even more of them. I would also have liked to know more about what had happened before, to him and his family.
August 14, 2026
Set in 1989, as the regime of Ceauşescu fades, this novel describes a populace caught between capitulation that many find the last resort, and resistance that seems futile.
It is told by way of a plot-driven story in alternating chapters. 8 year old Lia, an ordinary schoolgirl, brings suspicion upon her family when she buys a birthday present for her mother using Deutschmarks. She knows has done something wrong, but doesn’t understand what. The other concerns a police inspector named Constantin, a rarity in that he is a fair and decent man, though this has had disastrous consequences for his marriage. He is tasked with leading the investigation into a series of killings; an almost impossible job that could involve the government, which the police, who side with the public, do their best not to antagonise.
This is a boldly written and entertaining book, though the period and the political situation in Romania are very much in the background. Ultimately, it takes in too much, and is neither a murder mystery, nor an observation on the socio-political atmosphere of the day.
It is told by way of a plot-driven story in alternating chapters. 8 year old Lia, an ordinary schoolgirl, brings suspicion upon her family when she buys a birthday present for her mother using Deutschmarks. She knows has done something wrong, but doesn’t understand what. The other concerns a police inspector named Constantin, a rarity in that he is a fair and decent man, though this has had disastrous consequences for his marriage. He is tasked with leading the investigation into a series of killings; an almost impossible job that could involve the government, which the police, who side with the public, do their best not to antagonise.
This is a boldly written and entertaining book, though the period and the political situation in Romania are very much in the background. Ultimately, it takes in too much, and is neither a murder mystery, nor an observation on the socio-political atmosphere of the day.
August 28, 2026
I love how seamlessly the author tied together a murder mystery, life under Ceausescu's dictatorship, and these interesting fable-like fairy tales. There was so much going on here, but it never felt like the different pieces were competing with each other.
At first, I thought Lia's parents were absolutely horrible, but the more I thought about it, the more I understood where they were coming from. Lia would have been a hellion to keep safe during a dictatorship. She has such a strong spirit and an insatiable curiosity, and I can only imagine how terrifying it would have been to try to keep a child like that safe. Curiosity almost killed that cat, and Lia is damn lucky she survived some of the situations she got herself into.
The dark humor was also done so well. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, especially given the subject matter, but by the end I found it genuinely entertaining while still recognizing the deeper theme. I find myself very impressed by how flawlessly the author was able to balance all of these elements.
I haven't read anything quite like this before, and I'm glad I picked it up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! The narration brought so much personality to each of these characters.
At first, I thought Lia's parents were absolutely horrible, but the more I thought about it, the more I understood where they were coming from. Lia would have been a hellion to keep safe during a dictatorship. She has such a strong spirit and an insatiable curiosity, and I can only imagine how terrifying it would have been to try to keep a child like that safe. Curiosity almost killed that cat, and Lia is damn lucky she survived some of the situations she got herself into.
The dark humor was also done so well. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, especially given the subject matter, but by the end I found it genuinely entertaining while still recognizing the deeper theme. I find myself very impressed by how flawlessly the author was able to balance all of these elements.
I haven't read anything quite like this before, and I'm glad I picked it up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! The narration brought so much personality to each of these characters.
March 5, 2026
I loved this wry and satirical tale set during the final months of Ceaușescu’s reign in communist Romania.
The characters are convincingly drawn and the story moves along between two perspectives. There is that of talkative little Lia who just wants to brighten the lives of those around her, but sometimes inadvertently makes things worse for her stressed out parents. Then there is Constantine, the police detective, who is trying to solve a series of gruesome murders, while navigating the often ludicrous constraints applied by the corrupt powers that be and who seizes the opportunity to compose bedtime fairytales for his precious four year old son if a spare moment arises.
The oppressiveness and paranoia of life in communist Romania under Ceaușescu is clearly portrayed but is balanced by the hope and optimism in our two main characters who are determined to do their best to make things as good as they can be despite the circumstances.
Overall this is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it!
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for this much appreciated early copy of Astronaut.
The characters are convincingly drawn and the story moves along between two perspectives. There is that of talkative little Lia who just wants to brighten the lives of those around her, but sometimes inadvertently makes things worse for her stressed out parents. Then there is Constantine, the police detective, who is trying to solve a series of gruesome murders, while navigating the often ludicrous constraints applied by the corrupt powers that be and who seizes the opportunity to compose bedtime fairytales for his precious four year old son if a spare moment arises.
The oppressiveness and paranoia of life in communist Romania under Ceaușescu is clearly portrayed but is balanced by the hope and optimism in our two main characters who are determined to do their best to make things as good as they can be despite the circumstances.
Overall this is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it!
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for this much appreciated early copy of Astronaut.
March 15, 2026
Astronaut! is set in Romania during the final days of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s communist regime in 1989, and it gave me a fascinating insight into what everyday life was like during that time. The atmosphere of uncertainty and restriction is really well captured, making the setting feel vivid and immersive.
At first I wasn’t entirely sure about the writing style - it felt a little unusual - but after a few chapters I settled into it and became genuinely invested in the lives of the two main characters. Their stories unfold in a way that feels very human and relatable despite the very different political and cultural context.
I found the book quite moving overall, with moments that really stayed with me. There’s also a thread of dark humour running through the story, which helps balance the heavier themes and adds a surprising warmth to the narrative.
Overall, this was an engaging and thoughtful read that offered both emotional depth and an interesting historical perspective. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy character-driven stories set against real historical backdrops. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
At first I wasn’t entirely sure about the writing style - it felt a little unusual - but after a few chapters I settled into it and became genuinely invested in the lives of the two main characters. Their stories unfold in a way that feels very human and relatable despite the very different political and cultural context.
I found the book quite moving overall, with moments that really stayed with me. There’s also a thread of dark humour running through the story, which helps balance the heavier themes and adds a surprising warmth to the narrative.
Overall, this was an engaging and thoughtful read that offered both emotional depth and an interesting historical perspective. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy character-driven stories set against real historical backdrops. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 8, 2026
Aka “Anarcho-Thumbelina”, this wonderful novel is not getting the attention it deserves. Set in 1989 Romania, two separate stories start to converge when killings across the country are blamed on a bear and a young imaginative girl is forced to prepare for a visit by the communist country’s leader to her small town. It’s funny, moving, and very well-written, with particular praise going to the third-person narration that captures the thought-processes and innocence of young Lia. It’s part mystery, part political satire, part familial drama, with a brilliant, well-numbered, and memorable gaggle of characters. I’ll be thinking about the power of colour now as a result of reading this beauty of a book. Highly recommended.
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