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Rewrite the Stars
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Expected 7 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 08:17:08
50 copies available
U.S. only
A sparkling romance between an ex-actress and her contractor, reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite our destiny.
Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.
The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.
Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.
As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.
After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa's lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?
Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.
The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.
Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.
As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.
After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa's lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 7, 2026
8939 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Hameroff
3 books476 followersLindsay Hameroff lives in Harrisburg, PA with her husband and two kids. Her work has been published in McSweeneys, Weekly Humorist, and other humor outlets. She also co-edits Frazzled, a parenting humor site on Medium. TILL THERE WAS YOU is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 31, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!
📖 Book Review 📖 There is something magical about summers spent at a lake house. Every year, my mom would wake us up at 3am to make the eleven hour trek up to my great-grandmother’s cottage in Canada (very close to Barry’s Bay) with generations of my family. There was barely indoor plumbing and we all squeezed into the tiny accommodations but the memories made there were priceless.
Growing up changes us, and certainly becoming a mom almost rewrites our DNA. And when we go back to our special places with our children, something stirs deep inside. Life has been quite the challenge for Marissa since her husband left her for a younger Hollywood star. While she put aside her career to be a mom, nothing cements true strength like being the anchor for our kids in the storm. When she learns her late grandmother bequeathed her the beloved home in the Poconos, she takes the opportunity to introduce her children to her happy place.
Swept away with nostalgia and a budding new romance, Marissa unexpectedly finds herself in a summer totally worthy of postcards home (and please let’s bring that back in style). Lindsay Hameroff delivers a heartfelt emotional read that blends the best summers of childhood with the realities of adulthood. Life is way harder than it should be but thank our lucky stars for books like this.
📖 Book Review 📖 There is something magical about summers spent at a lake house. Every year, my mom would wake us up at 3am to make the eleven hour trek up to my great-grandmother’s cottage in Canada (very close to Barry’s Bay) with generations of my family. There was barely indoor plumbing and we all squeezed into the tiny accommodations but the memories made there were priceless.
Growing up changes us, and certainly becoming a mom almost rewrites our DNA. And when we go back to our special places with our children, something stirs deep inside. Life has been quite the challenge for Marissa since her husband left her for a younger Hollywood star. While she put aside her career to be a mom, nothing cements true strength like being the anchor for our kids in the storm. When she learns her late grandmother bequeathed her the beloved home in the Poconos, she takes the opportunity to introduce her children to her happy place.
Swept away with nostalgia and a budding new romance, Marissa unexpectedly finds herself in a summer totally worthy of postcards home (and please let’s bring that back in style). Lindsay Hameroff delivers a heartfelt emotional read that blends the best summers of childhood with the realities of adulthood. Life is way harder than it should be but thank our lucky stars for books like this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
‘Rewrite the Stars’ by Lindsay Hameroff is a charming, heartwarming romance that feels like sunshine on a slow summer day. Full of warmth, tender moments, and swoony slow-burn connection, this novel reminds readers it’s never too late to follow your heart and rewrite your own story.
Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has stepped out of the spotlight to focus on raising her two kids, but when her ex-husband’s sudden engagement sends paparazzi swarming, Marissa retreats with her children to the lake house she unexpectedly inherits in small-town Pennsylvania. However, what she hopes will be a quiet summer quickly turns into something much more as she unexpectedly runs into Jesse, a childhood friend and part of the team currently renovating her new home.
Jesse never forgot Marrisa, and as the days slip by among paint cans and late-night talks, their easy banter slowly deepens into something irresistible. Between tender moments, shared laughter, and nostalgic memories, sparks begin to fly in all the best ways. Yet with new opportunities on the horizon, Marissa must navigate her own desires, motherhood, and the possibility of a second chance at love to decide what she truly wants in life.
With a dreamy lake house backdrop and a cast of characters that feel like old friends, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ has all the comfort, heart, and romande that you could hope for, making it the perfect reed to fall into this summer.
Thank you to Netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review!
Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has stepped out of the spotlight to focus on raising her two kids, but when her ex-husband’s sudden engagement sends paparazzi swarming, Marissa retreats with her children to the lake house she unexpectedly inherits in small-town Pennsylvania. However, what she hopes will be a quiet summer quickly turns into something much more as she unexpectedly runs into Jesse, a childhood friend and part of the team currently renovating her new home.
Jesse never forgot Marrisa, and as the days slip by among paint cans and late-night talks, their easy banter slowly deepens into something irresistible. Between tender moments, shared laughter, and nostalgic memories, sparks begin to fly in all the best ways. Yet with new opportunities on the horizon, Marissa must navigate her own desires, motherhood, and the possibility of a second chance at love to decide what she truly wants in life.
With a dreamy lake house backdrop and a cast of characters that feel like old friends, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ has all the comfort, heart, and romande that you could hope for, making it the perfect reed to fall into this summer.
Thank you to Netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 29, 2026
Lindsay Hamreoff writes some of the best Romance novels out there. Her third novel, Rewrite the Stars is another 5-Star read!!
This story has absolutely everything a reader is looking for -
Great locations (LA but mostly the Poconos) that make you want to take that summer vacation to the lakes.
Lead characters with off the chart chemistry (Marissa the divorced mom of two who is in the Poconos on a much needed break from LA “meets” Jesse the foreman who we later find out knew each other when they were kids).
Ensemble characters who could have their own books because they are so darn funny.
And Romance!
However, much more than the story between Marissa and Jesse is the story of Marissa’s son who is Autistic - Lindsay brings this to the forefront and writes in such incredible detail (she speaks from her own heart). It was incredibly touching to see an autistic child written about in a book - and how all the characters around him interact.
I devoured this in just over a day - it is the perfect beach read, or in my case ice shut the airports down kinda read.
Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC. All opinions are my own!
This story has absolutely everything a reader is looking for -
Great locations (LA but mostly the Poconos) that make you want to take that summer vacation to the lakes.
Lead characters with off the chart chemistry (Marissa the divorced mom of two who is in the Poconos on a much needed break from LA “meets” Jesse the foreman who we later find out knew each other when they were kids).
Ensemble characters who could have their own books because they are so darn funny.
And Romance!
However, much more than the story between Marissa and Jesse is the story of Marissa’s son who is Autistic - Lindsay brings this to the forefront and writes in such incredible detail (she speaks from her own heart). It was incredibly touching to see an autistic child written about in a book - and how all the characters around him interact.
I devoured this in just over a day - it is the perfect beach read, or in my case ice shut the airports down kinda read.
Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC. All opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Semi-retired actress Marissa escapes a media frenzy by spending the summer with her children at a rundown lake house in the Poconos in order to escape a media frenzy involving their personal lives. While overseeing renovations, she reconnects with Jesse, the foreman who once knew her as a child and never forgot her. As they grow closer, Marissa begins prioritizing her own happiness and exploring a new romance. But when an unexpected career opportunity and new complications arise, Marissa and Jesse must decide whether their rekindled connection can fit into their future.
I loved this book for the warmer summer months; it blends that perfect summer feel, nostalgia, and heartfelt romance, but doesn't scrimp on the realities of life and adulthood.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book for the warmer summer months; it blends that perfect summer feel, nostalgia, and heartfelt romance, but doesn't scrimp on the realities of life and adulthood.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
Marissa creía que su vida ya era lo suficientemente complicada con un divorcio reciente, dos hijos y la prensa pendiente de cada paso que da. Lo último que esperaba era heredar la vieja casa de su abuela y terminar pasando el verano en un pueblo pequeño donde nadie parece impresionarse por su fama. Lo que empieza como una huida se convierte en un punto de pausa, de recuerdos y de decisiones difíciles. Ahí conoce a Jesse, un hombre tranquilo, directo y muy distinto a cualquiera que haya formado parte de su pasado. Mientras la casa se arregla y los días avanzan, ella empieza a preguntarse si realmente quiere volver a la vida que dejó atrás o si este lugar y Jess, pueden convertirse en algo más que un refugio temporal.
__
Que insoportable el ex.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Marissa creía que su vida ya era lo suficientemente complicada con un divorcio reciente, dos hijos y la prensa pendiente de cada paso que da. Lo último que esperaba era heredar la vieja casa de su abuela y terminar pasando el verano en un pueblo pequeño donde nadie parece impresionarse por su fama. Lo que empieza como una huida se convierte en un punto de pausa, de recuerdos y de decisiones difíciles. Ahí conoce a Jesse, un hombre tranquilo, directo y muy distinto a cualquiera que haya formado parte de su pasado. Mientras la casa se arregla y los días avanzan, ella empieza a preguntarse si realmente quiere volver a la vida que dejó atrás o si este lugar y Jess, pueden convertirse en algo más que un refugio temporal.
__
Que insoportable el ex.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 29, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
With the huge snowstorm we had, reading about a lake house was the perfect escape!😂 Summertime
at the lake just hits especially an East Coast summer🤍This was my first book from this author, and I enjoyed it so much. I typically am not the biggest fan of the trope of celebrity, but I did enjoy this one. I enjoyed the childhood friends to strangers to friends to lovers act. Marissa was such a great character to get to know; her ability to find herself and live for herself was inspiring. I love the fact that as a mom, she has so much love for her kids. Jesse, what a man a very HOT carpenter. He is so kind and was willing to support Marissa and her aspirations and be there for the kids.
Thank you Lindsay and St Martin’s Press for the arc💌
With the huge snowstorm we had, reading about a lake house was the perfect escape!😂 Summertime
at the lake just hits especially an East Coast summer🤍This was my first book from this author, and I enjoyed it so much. I typically am not the biggest fan of the trope of celebrity, but I did enjoy this one. I enjoyed the childhood friends to strangers to friends to lovers act. Marissa was such a great character to get to know; her ability to find herself and live for herself was inspiring. I love the fact that as a mom, she has so much love for her kids. Jesse, what a man a very HOT carpenter. He is so kind and was willing to support Marissa and her aspirations and be there for the kids.
Thank you Lindsay and St Martin’s Press for the arc💌
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very sweet feel-good read. I always love a celebrity/normie romance and this one did it really well with the backstory of knowing each other as kids. Marissa was multidimensional and so accurate in her characterization of a woman whose identity was subsumed by her ex-husband's larger than life persona, the demands of motherhood, and loneliness of living in a community known for shallow relationships.
The romance between Jesse and Marissa was tender and believable and his relationship with his family and her kids made me very relatable, not to mention his devotion to his dog, Diesel.
The romance between Jesse and Marissa was tender and believable and his relationship with his family and her kids made me very relatable, not to mention his devotion to his dog, Diesel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A single mother with two kids needs to escape the big city and returns to her summer vacation destination of her childhood where she finds romance. The premise alone will get me to read the story. I loved that an autistic son was featured and meeting a man who understood how to interact with children by meeting them at their level was a big part of the story. Then the kids went away for two weeks to stay with their dad and we never heard from them...and we got adult time but we didn't get adult conversations. I had a good time and would remore work from this author, but 4 stars was where I ended up with this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
This was a cute read.
Marissa is an almost retired actress going back to the Poconos to a house in desperate need of renovations.
Jesse is the handyman that Marissa hires to do the work at the home.
Little does she know, they used to be friends as kids.
It was so sweet watching them come together and remember things from their childhood.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to the ARC in exchange for this honest review!
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
This was a cute read.
Marissa is an almost retired actress going back to the Poconos to a house in desperate need of renovations.
Jesse is the handyman that Marissa hires to do the work at the home.
Little does she know, they used to be friends as kids.
It was so sweet watching them come together and remember things from their childhood.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to the ARC in exchange for this honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was so heartwarming and tender, like feeling the sun on your face when you are laying on a field. The depiction of Marissa's struggles as a mother who dropped her career to be with her kids was so raw and unglamourized. I love her journey of relearning to love herself and prioritize her desires and happiness and I love that Jesse was there to help her find herself again. I wish we got to see more of their life at the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to Netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another typical celeb×normal person story. It's cute- just nothing new. It feels as though I've already read the same story b4. That's my only problem- nowadays, writers are writing basically the same story with the same watered down tropes.
But this was really short- I finished it in 1 hour.
Was it bingeable? Yes
Do I recommend? Meh. Maybe.
Will I reread it? No
But this was really short- I finished it in 1 hour.
Was it bingeable? Yes
Do I recommend? Meh. Maybe.
Will I reread it? No
January 26, 2026
Marissa and Jesse were so sweet. A different take on childhood friends to lovers as their friendship was rather brief. The setting was very idyllic. Marissa is the ultimate mom caring for her children while also learning it’s okay to have things for herself too. A great summer read!
Currently reading
January 22, 2026I received an ARC from Keyana at St. Martin's Press today.
January 24, 2026
thank you to netgalley & st martin’s press for the ARC! really sweet & enjoyable summer romance that I didn’t want to end, honestly wish the ending was a bit longer 🥲
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love the celebrity / normal person trope and this was no exception. It’s an adorable love story but also a tribute to motherhood and finding yourself and accepting/demanding what you deserve- so sweet and swoony !!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews