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Under a Dancing Star
In grey, 1930s England, Bea has grown up kicking against the conventions of the time, all the while knowing that she will one day have to marry someone her parents choose - someone rich enough to keep the family estate alive. But she longs for so much more - for adventure, excitement, travel, and maybe even romance.
When she gets the chance to spend the summer in Italy with her bohemian uncle and his fiancée, a whole world is opened up to Bea - a world that includes Ben, a cocky young artist who just happens to be infuriatingly handsome too. Sparks fly between the quick-witted pair until one night, under the stars, a challenge is set: can Bea and Ben put aside their teasing and have the perfect summer romance?
With their new friends gleefully setting the rules for their fling, Bea and Ben can agree on one thing at least: they absolutely, positively will not, cannot fall in love...
A long, hot summer of kisses and mischief unfolds - but storm clouds are gathering across Europe, and home is calling. Every summer has to end - but for Bea, this might be just the beginning.
When she gets the chance to spend the summer in Italy with her bohemian uncle and his fiancée, a whole world is opened up to Bea - a world that includes Ben, a cocky young artist who just happens to be infuriatingly handsome too. Sparks fly between the quick-witted pair until one night, under the stars, a challenge is set: can Bea and Ben put aside their teasing and have the perfect summer romance?
With their new friends gleefully setting the rules for their fling, Bea and Ben can agree on one thing at least: they absolutely, positively will not, cannot fall in love...
A long, hot summer of kisses and mischief unfolds - but storm clouds are gathering across Europe, and home is calling. Every summer has to end - but for Bea, this might be just the beginning.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2019
90 people are currently reading
7191 people want to read
About the author
Laura Wood
21 books1,351 followersLaura Wood is the winner of the Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children's Writing and the author of the 'Poppy Pym' and 'Vote for Effie' middle-grade series and YA novels, A Sky Painted Gold and Under a Dancing Star.
She loves Georgette Heyer novels, Fred Astaire films, travelling to far flung places, recipe books, Jilly Cooper, poetry, cosy woollen jumpers, Edith Nesbit, crisp autumn leaves, Jack Gilbert, new stationery, sensation fiction, salted caramel, feminism, Rufus Sewell's cheek-bones, dogs, and drinking lashings of ginger beer.
She loves Georgette Heyer novels, Fred Astaire films, travelling to far flung places, recipe books, Jilly Cooper, poetry, cosy woollen jumpers, Edith Nesbit, crisp autumn leaves, Jack Gilbert, new stationery, sensation fiction, salted caramel, feminism, Rufus Sewell's cheek-bones, dogs, and drinking lashings of ginger beer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 548 reviews
May 2, 2019
I read Laura Wood's debut YA, A Sky Painted Gold, earlier in 2019 and fell in love with it. It was my perfect idea of a book: historical fiction, with a romance to die for and a female heroine it was impossible not to fall in love with. Laura Wood even started my love for Eva Ibbotson's books and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, which I'll forever be grateful for.
So, it's safe to say, I was a tiny bit excited to read Under a Dancing Star. And by a tiny bit, I mean "I thought about reading it at least five times a day, without fail, every day." It's been my most-anticipated release of 2019, especially as it, too, sounded like my perfect idea of a book: a Much Ado About Nothing re-telling (my favourite Shakespeare play), set during Italy in the 1930's. Amazing.
I read Under a Dancing Star within the space of a few hours because I could not put it down. It was impossible to tear myself away from Wood's mesmerising prose, her witty lines, and incredibly realistic characters. I was torn between wanting to read it all and not wanting it to end, but eventually I settled on practically inhaling it, and will most definitely be revisiting it line for line, word for word, very soon.
Bea, our heroine, is a science-loving, quick-witted, sometimes clumsy protagonist, who does Shakespeare's Beatrice proud. She had my heart from the moment she turned up clutching a jam jar full of glow worms, and I loved being able to explore the different layers to her character: the weight her parents' expectations place on her, her desire to make something of her life. I didn't think it was possible to take Shakespeare's Beatrice and make her even more rounded, but Wood manages to do this with ease, and Beatrice follows in the footsteps of Eva Ibbotson's Ruth Berger (The Morning Gift) and Sarah Perry's Cora Seaborne (The Essex Serpent). All characters I have huge respect (and a slight envy) for.
My favourite aspect of Wood's novels is watching the heroine come into her own and discover who she really is. Even though on the surface, Under a Dancing Star is about the burgeoning romance between Bea and Ben(edick), at its heart is Bea's journey to realising her true self, a journey that I think is so vital for teenager's to see.
The romance, which was just as swoonworthy as Lou and Robert's in A Sky Painted Gold, was out of this world amazing. Keeping the acerbic wit I love most in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, it also had a tenderness and sweetness that I wasn't expecting. It's never cliché or forced, but as natural as breathing.
Setting also plays a huge part in Under a Dancing Star: set in Italy, you can feel the heat of the Italian summer sun rising out of each page. I loved reading about the plants and birds and insects that Bea came across; I loved the descriptions of the food and the weather, in contrast to Bea's native England. And, most of all, Wood has a way of describing the sky that is second-to-none. She makes me want to climb atop a roof in Florence and gaze at the stars, something no author has ever achieved before.
I thought it was going to be impossible to beat A Sky Painted Gold, but Laura Wood has achieved the almost impossible: a perfect second novel that compliments the first in total harmony, whilst having a style and charm that is completely its own.
Laura Wood's books make me believe that I can achieve anything, as long as I believe in myself and am prepared for the journey to get there. Pure magic, from first page to last. The best book I'm likely to read in 2019, and maybe just the best YA book I've ever read.
So, it's safe to say, I was a tiny bit excited to read Under a Dancing Star. And by a tiny bit, I mean "I thought about reading it at least five times a day, without fail, every day." It's been my most-anticipated release of 2019, especially as it, too, sounded like my perfect idea of a book: a Much Ado About Nothing re-telling (my favourite Shakespeare play), set during Italy in the 1930's. Amazing.
I read Under a Dancing Star within the space of a few hours because I could not put it down. It was impossible to tear myself away from Wood's mesmerising prose, her witty lines, and incredibly realistic characters. I was torn between wanting to read it all and not wanting it to end, but eventually I settled on practically inhaling it, and will most definitely be revisiting it line for line, word for word, very soon.
Bea, our heroine, is a science-loving, quick-witted, sometimes clumsy protagonist, who does Shakespeare's Beatrice proud. She had my heart from the moment she turned up clutching a jam jar full of glow worms, and I loved being able to explore the different layers to her character: the weight her parents' expectations place on her, her desire to make something of her life. I didn't think it was possible to take Shakespeare's Beatrice and make her even more rounded, but Wood manages to do this with ease, and Beatrice follows in the footsteps of Eva Ibbotson's Ruth Berger (The Morning Gift) and Sarah Perry's Cora Seaborne (The Essex Serpent). All characters I have huge respect (and a slight envy) for.
My favourite aspect of Wood's novels is watching the heroine come into her own and discover who she really is. Even though on the surface, Under a Dancing Star is about the burgeoning romance between Bea and Ben(edick), at its heart is Bea's journey to realising her true self, a journey that I think is so vital for teenager's to see.
The romance, which was just as swoonworthy as Lou and Robert's in A Sky Painted Gold, was out of this world amazing. Keeping the acerbic wit I love most in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, it also had a tenderness and sweetness that I wasn't expecting. It's never cliché or forced, but as natural as breathing.
Setting also plays a huge part in Under a Dancing Star: set in Italy, you can feel the heat of the Italian summer sun rising out of each page. I loved reading about the plants and birds and insects that Bea came across; I loved the descriptions of the food and the weather, in contrast to Bea's native England. And, most of all, Wood has a way of describing the sky that is second-to-none. She makes me want to climb atop a roof in Florence and gaze at the stars, something no author has ever achieved before.
I thought it was going to be impossible to beat A Sky Painted Gold, but Laura Wood has achieved the almost impossible: a perfect second novel that compliments the first in total harmony, whilst having a style and charm that is completely its own.
Laura Wood's books make me believe that I can achieve anything, as long as I believe in myself and am prepared for the journey to get there. Pure magic, from first page to last. The best book I'm likely to read in 2019, and maybe just the best YA book I've ever read.
May 5, 2023
Y A PAS À ÉCRIRE DES LIVRES AUSSI BIEN EN FAIT.
Complètement amoureuse de ce roman, de son ambiance, de ses personnages, de son histoire… c’est une pépite au même titre que Sous un ciel d’or et c’est magnifiquement écrit, superbement mené pour qu’on soit happé jusqu’à la dernière page. A LIRE ABSOLUMENT.
Complètement amoureuse de ce roman, de son ambiance, de ses personnages, de son histoire… c’est une pépite au même titre que Sous un ciel d’or et c’est magnifiquement écrit, superbement mené pour qu’on soit happé jusqu’à la dernière page. A LIRE ABSOLUMENT.
August 19, 2019
Laura Wood does know how to write an excellent retelling, especially set during summer.
This is a fun retelling of Much Ado About Nothing (William Shakespeare). It is predictable yes, but then if you are reading a love story set in Italy in 1933 in a villa full of artists you don't want a tragedy. So it delivered.
It is perfect if you want something light to read on a sunny (or not so sunny) day. I know that for Laura Wood is definitely a perfect author to read during summer.
This is a fun retelling of Much Ado About Nothing (William Shakespeare). It is predictable yes, but then if you are reading a love story set in Italy in 1933 in a villa full of artists you don't want a tragedy. So it delivered.
It is perfect if you want something light to read on a sunny (or not so sunny) day. I know that for Laura Wood is definitely a perfect author to read during summer.
June 3, 2021
Wood evidently strives to emulate Shakespeare’s acerbic wit. Her writing is appropriately cheeky and wryly observed. The side effect is that it sometimes strays instead into the obnoxious. This one is too cringey to be indulgent - and that’s why Under a Dancing Star made me gag a little.
The novel attempts to fill a gap in Much Ado About Nothing: Benedick and Beatrice clearly have some sort of history and this is an imaginative leap/prequel. Nice idea, I likey. Rather than infusing her prose with the themes or conflicts of the play, however, Wood makes its ancestry abundantly clear. The consequence of which is that Under a Dancing Star reads like starstruck fanfiction.
Perhaps the Shakespearean parallels lured her into a false sense of security; the gauzy characterization is heavily dependent on archetypes and the existing characters of Beatrice and Benedick which, I must say, perhaps even denies Wood her imagination. The novel itself is saturated with the suspicion that it was written with the view of satisfying Wood’s enthusiasm for the play rather than crafting a fresh coming of age standalone.
The temporal transferal was a little confusing to me. The setting is gorgeously atmospheric, but it would be difficult not to capture a swoony Italian summer, particularly in that nostalgic, bygone era sense. In many senses the time period felt a little stilted, starring hazy allusions to Modernism and fascism that did not add greatly to the plot or at least provide food for thought. More than anything it felt like a moment of authorial panic because the characterisation of Bea so clearly depended on a society that was stifling enough for women, but modern enough to pack a specimen off to the Continent alone with some prospects as an allowance.
In extension, a key selling point of Much Ado About Nothing is of course the sharp-tongued yet compassionate Beatrice. Wood’s retort is Bea, a character who is evidently aspiring to a feminist icon. A particularly irritating facet of the novel is that it is explicitly direct in its delineation of the moral orthodoxy of the time, lacking the nuance that makes a compelling feminist novel:
'As far as my parents are concerned, daughters aren't terribly useful asset. I’m not supposed to go out into the world and actually do things.They’d like me to be more… ornamental. I’m just too much for them. Too big, too loud, too clever.'
Such pretentious exposition affords a reader very little credit. And let’s not forget those subtle reminders of Bea’s searing agency: ‘It’s time to take my destiny into my own hands…’
Her dialogue is contrived and her frequent outrageous sex references as a means to differentiate her from her peers are quite frankly wince-inducing.
The moral orthodoxy in question feels mysteriously archaic for the interwar period, serving only to instigate the somewhat conventional narrative of ‘feisty tomboy refuses to marry for money/security’. She doesn’t need rescuing. It's also glaringly incongruous with the tone elsewhere - Bea's parents and their agenda would fit seamlessly into a Victorian equivalent. Come on, it’s time to break free of these static images of feminism.
The romance? Gosh. As I mentioned, this is certainly marketed as guilty pleasure summer reading, but I found the romance far too saccahrine, straying into unnecessary cliche. Bonding experiences include (but are not restricted to) multiple incidents of spilling paint over one another/ falling on top of one another in paint etc. What a hoot! It made my toes curl.
Sadly not for me. I loved the writing, but alas the rest convinced me it was naptime. With thanks to the publisher for the proof copy.
The novel attempts to fill a gap in Much Ado About Nothing: Benedick and Beatrice clearly have some sort of history and this is an imaginative leap/prequel. Nice idea, I likey. Rather than infusing her prose with the themes or conflicts of the play, however, Wood makes its ancestry abundantly clear. The consequence of which is that Under a Dancing Star reads like starstruck fanfiction.
Perhaps the Shakespearean parallels lured her into a false sense of security; the gauzy characterization is heavily dependent on archetypes and the existing characters of Beatrice and Benedick which, I must say, perhaps even denies Wood her imagination. The novel itself is saturated with the suspicion that it was written with the view of satisfying Wood’s enthusiasm for the play rather than crafting a fresh coming of age standalone.
The temporal transferal was a little confusing to me. The setting is gorgeously atmospheric, but it would be difficult not to capture a swoony Italian summer, particularly in that nostalgic, bygone era sense. In many senses the time period felt a little stilted, starring hazy allusions to Modernism and fascism that did not add greatly to the plot or at least provide food for thought. More than anything it felt like a moment of authorial panic because the characterisation of Bea so clearly depended on a society that was stifling enough for women, but modern enough to pack a specimen off to the Continent alone with some prospects as an allowance.
In extension, a key selling point of Much Ado About Nothing is of course the sharp-tongued yet compassionate Beatrice. Wood’s retort is Bea, a character who is evidently aspiring to a feminist icon. A particularly irritating facet of the novel is that it is explicitly direct in its delineation of the moral orthodoxy of the time, lacking the nuance that makes a compelling feminist novel:
'As far as my parents are concerned, daughters aren't terribly useful asset. I’m not supposed to go out into the world and actually do things.They’d like me to be more… ornamental. I’m just too much for them. Too big, too loud, too clever.'
Such pretentious exposition affords a reader very little credit. And let’s not forget those subtle reminders of Bea’s searing agency: ‘It’s time to take my destiny into my own hands…’
Her dialogue is contrived and her frequent outrageous sex references as a means to differentiate her from her peers are quite frankly wince-inducing.
The moral orthodoxy in question feels mysteriously archaic for the interwar period, serving only to instigate the somewhat conventional narrative of ‘feisty tomboy refuses to marry for money/security’. She doesn’t need rescuing. It's also glaringly incongruous with the tone elsewhere - Bea's parents and their agenda would fit seamlessly into a Victorian equivalent. Come on, it’s time to break free of these static images of feminism.
The romance? Gosh. As I mentioned, this is certainly marketed as guilty pleasure summer reading, but I found the romance far too saccahrine, straying into unnecessary cliche. Bonding experiences include (but are not restricted to) multiple incidents of spilling paint over one another/ falling on top of one another in paint etc. What a hoot! It made my toes curl.
Sadly not for me. I loved the writing, but alas the rest convinced me it was naptime. With thanks to the publisher for the proof copy.
May 18, 2022
awww
still hate men
still hate men
June 28, 2019
Under A Dancing Star by Laura Wood* - Disclaimer: Laura is my pal. But I made her be my friend because I'm OBSESSED WITH HER BOOKS. They're the perfect comfort reads which just speak to my soul. This one is no exception - a PREQUEL to MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING set in THE THIRTIES in ITALY in an ARTIST'S COMMUNE. UM?!?!?!?!? Excellent. In every way. I have so many thoughts about Ben and Bea, and the misshapen way they fit together during the book, and in the future. I want a sequel, obviously.
November 4, 2023
3,5/5 C’était hyper mignon, avec des thématiques importantes. Ça se passe dans les années 30 avec la montée du fascisme et du nazisme. Un livre plein d’humour, de tendresse, de romantisme et un amour impossible 🥲 J’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ma lecture, c’est une petite douceur
September 24, 2021
never getting over ben and bea they've ruined me
July 16, 2020
I loved this book! It was so unique! It’s about a girl named Bea who lives in England and her parents ship her off to live with her uncle in Italy so she can become more ladylike (it’s set in the 1930’s)! In reality her uncle is engaged and his fiancé is friends with a bunch of painters and writers who also live with them! Bea joins them and it’s basically a bunch of people living together and having a lot of fun! There is romance (obviously) and it’s SO cute! It made me laugh out loud and say awww at all the cute parts! At one point the love interest says “I think you’re extraordinary.” So if that doesn’t convince you to read the book then I don’t know what will! Also there is a party for Jupiter to make it rain OK how cool is that?
May 22, 2020
I LOVED the Much Ado About Nothing film as a kid, based of course off of the Shakespeare play. This book takes on one of the character paths from this play and follows the story of Beatrice and Benedick, who have a love-hate relationship throughout the book. Bea is a 17-year-old girl sent to Italy by her parents to be watched over by her Uncle, who has started to tread slightly down the bohemian path. Her Uncle's house has become home to many artists, which is how Bea meets Ben and so the journey begins.
The beauty in the words of this book creates a captivating and atmospheric reading experience. The setting of a summer in Italy painted the perfect picture for a mesmerising setting in which Bea can really discover herself and her passions. She is a fantastic leading lady, wanting to break out of the norm that has been set for her by society and her parents. I felt I wanted to fight fiercely for her and her rights as a human to be able to do what she wants in life!
I really liked the theme following the artists in and out of Bea's Uncle's house. It added another layer to the story and also helped to contribute to Bea's passions being truly unearthed. This book is very much about finding yourself, having a fleeting adventure and learning a new approach to life.
Wood's use of a classic Shakespearean play to retell in this book means it already came with its own atmosphere and feeling, but yet she has still managed to make it hers. Wood has introduced characters that feel real and wonderful and has put them in a setting to match. This book is s a beautiful reading experience that I would highly recommend to anyone.
The beauty in the words of this book creates a captivating and atmospheric reading experience. The setting of a summer in Italy painted the perfect picture for a mesmerising setting in which Bea can really discover herself and her passions. She is a fantastic leading lady, wanting to break out of the norm that has been set for her by society and her parents. I felt I wanted to fight fiercely for her and her rights as a human to be able to do what she wants in life!
I really liked the theme following the artists in and out of Bea's Uncle's house. It added another layer to the story and also helped to contribute to Bea's passions being truly unearthed. This book is very much about finding yourself, having a fleeting adventure and learning a new approach to life.
Wood's use of a classic Shakespearean play to retell in this book means it already came with its own atmosphere and feeling, but yet she has still managed to make it hers. Wood has introduced characters that feel real and wonderful and has put them in a setting to match. This book is s a beautiful reading experience that I would highly recommend to anyone.
March 10, 2022
Pure enjoyment 💕
June 5, 2021
2.5 stars
honeyyyy, this ain't it.
okay but like the first half of this book was cheff's kiss. there was a beautiful setting of italy, and this seemingly slow burn romance, and some delightful atmosphere created. and then
this book tried to do to much all at once.
icba to go through everything rn BUT
-politics - look i'm a history nerd. when i saw the word mussolini? i was pumped for some great indepth exploration of facism. buuut it's half-baked and thrown in for no reason at al apart from historical accuracy.
-THE ENDING
-
honeyyyy, this ain't it.
okay but like the first half of this book was cheff's kiss. there was a beautiful setting of italy, and this seemingly slow burn romance, and some delightful atmosphere created. and then
this book tried to do to much all at once.
icba to go through everything rn BUT
-politics - look i'm a history nerd. when i saw the word mussolini? i was pumped for some great indepth exploration of facism. buuut it's half-baked and thrown in for no reason at al apart from historical accuracy.
-THE ENDING
-
January 8, 2023
I had pretty much no expectations going into this one and I ended up really enjoying it! It was a super fast read, I read it all in one day. The writing was simple and easy but the plot and characters kept it interesting enough that I was still engaged with the story.
This book really made me want to visit Italy! The descriptions and just the vibes overall made it sound so picturesque and like the perfect vacation destination.
I like that it had a fun, romantic premise overall but it also discussed a lot about historical events that were relevant in the early 1930s. This added a lot more substance to the book.
I definitely want to check out more books by this author!
This book really made me want to visit Italy! The descriptions and just the vibes overall made it sound so picturesque and like the perfect vacation destination.
I like that it had a fun, romantic premise overall but it also discussed a lot about historical events that were relevant in the early 1930s. This added a lot more substance to the book.
I definitely want to check out more books by this author!
June 1, 2024
I loved the language in this book from hoyden to troth to ablution!
July 6, 2019
I am in head-over-heels in love with Laura Wood’s YA historical fiction. Last year I fell in love with 1920s Cornwall in A SKY PAINTED GOLD, and this year I was whisked away to sun-swept Tuscany in the 1930s.
Inspired by Much Ado About Nothing, with a heroine reminiscent of Sybil from Downton Abbey and a lazy Italian summer setting evoking other works such as Call Me By Your Name, UNDER A DANCING STAR is a beautiful novel about a girl finding her place in the world and deciding to take control of her life and who she wants to be. (She also falls in love with a very handsome artist along the way.)
The lush Tuscan setting was expertly combined with a dazzling cast of characters (I’m a bit in love with Ursula), and the history included here and there about the rise of Mussolini and fascism was really interesting. Also I’m really happy Wood always adds a bit of LGBTQ rep to her novels - there’s an older secondary f/f couple featured, and one of the central cast is bisexual!
I really hope Wood is writing another YA hist fic along the same lines as these two, just so next summer will be even more wonderful.
Also, please Ms Wood, it you see this, I would adore a sequel <3
> a solid 4.5 stars
Inspired by Much Ado About Nothing, with a heroine reminiscent of Sybil from Downton Abbey and a lazy Italian summer setting evoking other works such as Call Me By Your Name, UNDER A DANCING STAR is a beautiful novel about a girl finding her place in the world and deciding to take control of her life and who she wants to be. (She also falls in love with a very handsome artist along the way.)
The lush Tuscan setting was expertly combined with a dazzling cast of characters (I’m a bit in love with Ursula), and the history included here and there about the rise of Mussolini and fascism was really interesting. Also I’m really happy Wood always adds a bit of LGBTQ rep to her novels - there’s an older secondary f/f couple featured, and one of the central cast is bisexual!
I really hope Wood is writing another YA hist fic along the same lines as these two, just so next summer will be even more wonderful.
Also, please Ms Wood, it you see this, I would adore a sequel <3
> a solid 4.5 stars
July 13, 2019
It's no secret that I love Much Ado About Nothing, Italy, and books with artsy people. This had all three of those (plus an absolutely stunning cover) and I really enjoyed this overall.
First off: Bea and Ben is one of my OTPs and I loved this take on their relationship - any form of fake dating can get it. I also liked that this addressed some of what happened in 1933, but I think it remained too simplistic while trying to portray various points of view - same as with Bea not adhering to the traditional image of femininity.
This wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be that for me to really dig this.
First off: Bea and Ben is one of my OTPs and I loved this take on their relationship - any form of fake dating can get it. I also liked that this addressed some of what happened in 1933, but I think it remained too simplistic while trying to portray various points of view - same as with Bea not adhering to the traditional image of femininity.
This wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be that for me to really dig this.
July 3, 2019
I absolutely adored this. Fans of Laura Wood's A Sky Painted Gold will not be disappointed - in fact, I think I loved this one just a tiny bit more. Bea and Ben's romance is a joy to watch unfold, but it is Bea's wit and charm that I really fell in love with. The perfect summer holiday read.
July 7, 2019
A dreamy and romantic summer read - with a little more seriousness than I was expecting (but that's certainly no criticism considering the time in which it is set). Plus Much Ado is my favourite Shakespeare.
July 17, 2023
Another Laura Wood novel that did not disappoint. This was just a pleasant surprise and I love every single bit of it! Just like A Sky Painted Gold, I think I can reread the novel over and over again:’)
From today on, Laura Wood is one of my auto-buy authors!
From today on, Laura Wood is one of my auto-buy authors!
July 31, 2019
Dreamy and utterly absorbing, I loved this.
February 17, 2024
4.5🌟 A highly entertaining and lovely summer-themed book! I was invested from the very first page to the next to last chapter. Amusing, romantic and so very much full of Italian sunshine.
I loved Bea's character so much—feisty, smart, clever and attractive in a caterpillar-to-butterfly sort of way. Her personality just shines bright throughout the entire book. I also loved the handsome, creative and flirty Ben and the way he and Bea interact with each other from their first "collision" at the train station.
My other favorite character in this book is Philomena, the fiancee of Bea's uncle, who hosts Bea at their Italian villa filled with artists. She is strong, positive, talented and just overall a person you would want to have on your side.
I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. And, I would have rated it 5🌟, except the next to last chapter rankled. I found it a bit disappointing and jarring. But, the epilogue helped a bit.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! For someone who only likes to read books in their "proper season" (lol), I utterly enjoyed reading a book set in the hot Italian summer while it's a cold New Hampshire winter here. Luxurious!
I loved Bea's character so much—feisty, smart, clever and attractive in a caterpillar-to-butterfly sort of way. Her personality just shines bright throughout the entire book. I also loved the handsome, creative and flirty Ben and the way he and Bea interact with each other from their first "collision" at the train station.
My other favorite character in this book is Philomena, the fiancee of Bea's uncle, who hosts Bea at their Italian villa filled with artists. She is strong, positive, talented and just overall a person you would want to have on your side.
I didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. And, I would have rated it 5🌟, except the next to last chapter rankled. I found it a bit disappointing and jarring. But, the epilogue helped a bit.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! For someone who only likes to read books in their "proper season" (lol), I utterly enjoyed reading a book set in the hot Italian summer while it's a cold New Hampshire winter here. Luxurious!
May 25, 2024
loooooved this book. beatrice and benedick will forever be unmatched in my eyes, like they are THE blueprint… this retelling/ „prequel“ was wonderful! unexpectedly political, but enjoyed this aspect and it definitely made sense! i liked how you could clearly recognize each character, but how it added new facets to each of them. cute, fluffy summer book, even made me cry a little. can only recommend.
May 1, 2023
i really am a sucker for a much ado about nothing retelling. this book felt so summery and romantic and wonderful!! i love beatrice and benedick in every form.
December 13, 2020
I wasn't very impressed with this book.
Perhaps since I know nothing about Much Ado About Nothing and the historical context, but the romance itself was 0% compelling or believable. And this is supposed to be a romance novel.
I feel this book was quite surface-level in the sense that it didn't really dig deeper into the romance, the relationships, and the characters - at least, not as much as I would've liked to see. Although I liked the main character, the rest of the cast seemed unbearably undeveloped, and even Bea started to fall flat towards the second half of the book.
I did like the writing - it was pretty and lyrical and hit all the right spots when describing places especially - though the use of unfamiliar and contrived words like frisson. And pediment. And winsome. And hedgerow. The list goes on. Granted, it is a story set in 1930s England and Italy.
Like the polished, indulgent extravagance the characters revel in, Under A Dancing Star paints a shallow picture of everything - from the characters and their relationships to its exploration on the politics in that era. Filomena, a white Italian woman, is described upon her first appearance to be "wearing a decadent black silk kimono printed with red flowers, tied loosely over a red silk nightgown". The careless manner in which it is worn, as if it is but a mere sultry accessory, shows a complete lack of respect for the kimono, a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan - an off-putting description which dampens the overall reading experience.
Politics is mentioned in careless scatters throughout the book, and the author's treatment of it is similarly in a touch-and-go fashion. Sometimes I was left feeling confused as I didn't know the context. It all felt very random and irrelevant to the story - a longer, much more in-depth exploration of all aspects of the story would certainly have helped the book be more raw and enjoyable. Maybe it would've been better if those politics were addressed through the main character herself, instead of her passive role as a witness and a bystander. The ending of the book was likewise unsatisfying.
Perhaps since I know nothing about Much Ado About Nothing and the historical context, but the romance itself was 0% compelling or believable. And this is supposed to be a romance novel.
I feel this book was quite surface-level in the sense that it didn't really dig deeper into the romance, the relationships, and the characters - at least, not as much as I would've liked to see. Although I liked the main character, the rest of the cast seemed unbearably undeveloped, and even Bea started to fall flat towards the second half of the book.
I did like the writing - it was pretty and lyrical and hit all the right spots when describing places especially - though the use of unfamiliar and contrived words like frisson. And pediment. And winsome. And hedgerow. The list goes on. Granted, it is a story set in 1930s England and Italy.
Like the polished, indulgent extravagance the characters revel in, Under A Dancing Star paints a shallow picture of everything - from the characters and their relationships to its exploration on the politics in that era. Filomena, a white Italian woman, is described upon her first appearance to be "wearing a decadent black silk kimono printed with red flowers, tied loosely over a red silk nightgown". The careless manner in which it is worn, as if it is but a mere sultry accessory, shows a complete lack of respect for the kimono, a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan - an off-putting description which dampens the overall reading experience.
Politics is mentioned in careless scatters throughout the book, and the author's treatment of it is similarly in a touch-and-go fashion. Sometimes I was left feeling confused as I didn't know the context. It all felt very random and irrelevant to the story - a longer, much more in-depth exploration of all aspects of the story would certainly have helped the book be more raw and enjoyable. Maybe it would've been better if those politics were addressed through the main character herself, instead of her passive role as a witness and a bystander. The ending of the book was likewise unsatisfying.
September 21, 2021
“The idea is as paper-thin and fragile as the wings of a butterfly, and as it flutters gently awake I hardly dare to hold it still in my mind.”
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Under a Dancing Star by: Laura Wood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Age Recommendation: 16+
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POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD
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This book is a delightful escape that provides romance and heartbreak all at once.
Though this story was a bit too short for my liking, I did however, enjoy the relationship development between Bea & Ben. I like how the ending was left up to interpretation, but the romantic in me wishes there had been a bit more closure between these two.
.
Overall I would rate this book 4/5 stars. A nice quick read, with a romantic plot.
-
Under a Dancing Star by: Laura Wood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Age Recommendation: 16+
.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD
.
This book is a delightful escape that provides romance and heartbreak all at once.
Though this story was a bit too short for my liking, I did however, enjoy the relationship development between Bea & Ben. I like how the ending was left up to interpretation, but the romantic in me wishes there had been a bit more closure between these two.
.
Overall I would rate this book 4/5 stars. A nice quick read, with a romantic plot.
February 17, 2022
Perfect. I am literally IN LOVE with this book??? If this book was a person i’d love them. The perfect summer romance in one book! It has everything I could’ve ever wanted in a romance book. There was some historical references (since it was based In 1933-1937) if you are interested in that. Now where do I find myself a Ben???
September 18, 2019
I really loved Laura Wood's other novel A Sky Painted Gold and she did not disappoint with Under a Dancing Star. It is a quick read - romantic, atmospheric, dazzling, and enthralling. A perfect book to read laying around the pool.
April 17, 2020
Laura Wood's books are like delicious snacks. I absolutely cannot get enough of them, and it's infuriating how underrated they are!
I had so much fun reading this book. The banter in here was a freaking work of art! I need more Much Ado About Nothing retellings' greatness in my life.
I had so much fun reading this book. The banter in here was a freaking work of art! I need more Much Ado About Nothing retellings' greatness in my life.
January 15, 2023
What a gorgeous book.
Set in Italy, during Mussolini’s rise, Bea is sent to her uncle’s house to spend the summer with her cousin Hero. There she meets Ben, the devilishly handsome artist.
“Indeed my lord, he lent it me awhile, and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one.” (Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Scene 1)
This is it. This is them before Much Ado About Nothing. This is their perfect and wonderful summertime romance experience.
Somehow, it took me so long to get into this book, scared that it wouldn’t do justice to one of my favourite plays of all time. Boy was I wrong : I devoured this book like no book before.
Beatrice is this smart and driven woman, struggling with her people-pleasing traits, but while still being herself : a self-thought insect fanatic. She wasn’t forced and had dept, which I liked very much. The idea of romance certainly wasn’t her main goal in life, far from it, which made her story with Ben even better. Instead of asking for her life to change, while doing nothing like so many other book heroines, she actually decided to make the most of her youth, exploring Italy and studying medicine. Power move.
Ben, or rather *Benedick*, is a young man with a troubled past, a handsome face and a big talent in arts. He is, for me at least, the epitome of a romantic man. Not too possessive, but not too much of a jerk either. He is sweet, affectionate, observant, careless in a way that pulls you in but down to earth in a rational and logical way.
Finally, our favorite side characters, which didn’t feel like side characters at all, might I add, Klaus, Ursula and Filomena. These three were somewhat exactly what you need in these coming of age stories : strong people with strong convictions and a “let loose” kind of attitude. Filomena was the mother that Bea never had, nurturing and kind, which is sad in a way, because Bea’s mom is far from dead.
Anyway,
Loved this one <3
Set in Italy, during Mussolini’s rise, Bea is sent to her uncle’s house to spend the summer with her cousin Hero. There she meets Ben, the devilishly handsome artist.
“Indeed my lord, he lent it me awhile, and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one.” (Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Scene 1)
This is it. This is them before Much Ado About Nothing. This is their perfect and wonderful summertime romance experience.
Somehow, it took me so long to get into this book, scared that it wouldn’t do justice to one of my favourite plays of all time. Boy was I wrong : I devoured this book like no book before.
Beatrice is this smart and driven woman, struggling with her people-pleasing traits, but while still being herself : a self-thought insect fanatic. She wasn’t forced and had dept, which I liked very much. The idea of romance certainly wasn’t her main goal in life, far from it, which made her story with Ben even better. Instead of asking for her life to change, while doing nothing like so many other book heroines, she actually decided to make the most of her youth, exploring Italy and studying medicine. Power move.
Ben, or rather *Benedick*, is a young man with a troubled past, a handsome face and a big talent in arts. He is, for me at least, the epitome of a romantic man. Not too possessive, but not too much of a jerk either. He is sweet, affectionate, observant, careless in a way that pulls you in but down to earth in a rational and logical way.
Finally, our favorite side characters, which didn’t feel like side characters at all, might I add, Klaus, Ursula and Filomena. These three were somewhat exactly what you need in these coming of age stories : strong people with strong convictions and a “let loose” kind of attitude. Filomena was the mother that Bea never had, nurturing and kind, which is sad in a way, because Bea’s mom is far from dead.
Anyway,
Loved this one <3
October 8, 2023
J'ai adoré ma lecture ! C'est une très chouette lecture pour l'été !
J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Béa qui sait ce qu'elle veut et ne se laisse pas faire. J'ai apprécié suivre son voyage en Italie dans la demeure de son oncle, suivre les rencontres qu'elle va pouvoir y faire. Elle y découvre tout un nouveau monde auprès d'artistes qui vont lui montrer que l'art et la science peuvent cohabiter ensemble et même permettre de découvrir de nouvelles choses.
Sa relation avec les autres et notamment avec Ben est géniale ! Ils sont comme chien et chat et leurs discussions et interactions étaient très drôles à suivre. Évidement, on se doute que leur pari ne pouvait que mal tourner mais j'ai adoré suivre l'évolution de leur relation et de leurs sentiments.
J'ai beaucoup aimé également tout le côté politique en arrière fond du roman, en effet, nous nous retrouvons dans l'Italie des années 30 qui fait face à la montée du fascisme en même temps qu'Hilter arrive au pouvoir en Allemagne. On est sur les amorces de ce qui donnera ensuite la seconde guerre mondiale et j'ai trouvé que cela donnait une profondeur supplémentaire au récit.
Seul regret cependant, que l'on n'ait pas plus de scènes entre Béa et Ben une fois leur amour révélé, cela m'a donné l'impression de rester un peu sur ma faim.
J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage de Béa qui sait ce qu'elle veut et ne se laisse pas faire. J'ai apprécié suivre son voyage en Italie dans la demeure de son oncle, suivre les rencontres qu'elle va pouvoir y faire. Elle y découvre tout un nouveau monde auprès d'artistes qui vont lui montrer que l'art et la science peuvent cohabiter ensemble et même permettre de découvrir de nouvelles choses.
Sa relation avec les autres et notamment avec Ben est géniale ! Ils sont comme chien et chat et leurs discussions et interactions étaient très drôles à suivre. Évidement, on se doute que leur pari ne pouvait que mal tourner mais j'ai adoré suivre l'évolution de leur relation et de leurs sentiments.
J'ai beaucoup aimé également tout le côté politique en arrière fond du roman, en effet, nous nous retrouvons dans l'Italie des années 30 qui fait face à la montée du fascisme en même temps qu'Hilter arrive au pouvoir en Allemagne. On est sur les amorces de ce qui donnera ensuite la seconde guerre mondiale et j'ai trouvé que cela donnait une profondeur supplémentaire au récit.
Seul regret cependant, que l'on n'ait pas plus de scènes entre Béa et Ben une fois leur amour révélé, cela m'a donné l'impression de rester un peu sur ma faim.
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