Waiting for a Star to Fall: A Novel

by Kerry Clare

"A love story at its core, though one without an ending written in the stars. . . . Timely and insightful." --Karma Brown, #1 bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife

For fans of Joanne Ramos, Josie Silver, and Emily Giffin, a gripping and powerful story that asks: Just how much are you willing to forgive in the name of love?

Brooke has long been caught in the orbit of Derek, a rising political superstar. First he was her boss, then they were friends and she became his confidant, the one person he shared everything with. And even though she had feelings for him--it was hard to resist; he's charming and handsome, respected and beloved--she never dreamed he'd feel the same way. Derek is so much older and could have anyone he wanted.

But it turns out that who Derek wants is Brooke, and suddenly none of the reasons they shouldn't be together matter. They fall in love. And even though Brooke has to keep the relationship a secret--stealing weekends away with him, late nights with takeout after long days at work, and business trips that are always a romantic whirlwind--being close to him and her dreams of their future make everything worth it.

Then it all falls apart, and Brooke is left holding the pieces of the life they'd shared. Derek becomes embroiled in a scandal--the kind Brooke never could have imagined he'd be involved in--and she is forced to re-examine their relationship and make sense of the man she loves.

Poignant, heart-stopping, and resonant, Waiting for a Star to Fall is a story about love, the things we choose to believe, and how sometimes the path to happily ever after has to start with ourselves.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Feminism, Relationships

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2020

About the author

KERRY CLARE is the author of novels Asking for a Friend, Waiting for a Star to Fall and Mitzi Bytes, and editor of The M Word: Conversations About Motherhood. A National Magazine Award-nominated essayist, and editor of Canadian books website 49thShelf.com, she writes about books and reading at her longtime blog, Pickle Me This. She lives in Toronto with her family.

Reviews

[Marin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A love story at its core.” No. No, no, no. “Waiting for a Star to Fall” is so far from a love story that I think it’s wildly irresponsible for publishers to market it as such. Here’s why: in this novel, Brooke is a young staffer for a much older (i.e. she is 19-20ish, he is pushing 40) rising political star, Derek, who has a reputation for being a little too friendly with the ladies. In her early days as an intern on Derek’s campaign, Brooke witnesses him repeatedly sleep with, and dump, young women working in his office. She even describes a drunken night in which he gets handsy with her, but brushes it off as nothing the next day. Once Derek expresses interest in her (pledging he has always felt differently about *her*) their relationship has to be kept a total secret - it would simply be too damaging for his image to go public. This goes on for almost a year. A surprise event ultimately causes Derek to essentially “take care of” the problem that is Brooke, relegating her to political no-man’s-land to save his own ass and reputation. Nice. Brooke reflects on all this - their relationship and it’s aftermath - in the midst of Derek very publicly going down in a #MeToo scandal. The author has Brooke constantly defending Derek for his abhorrent behaviour and actions - a dissonance in light of very apparent evidence that screams she is suffering from emotional manipulation and straight up denial. ALL THIS IS ANYTHING BUT A LOVE STORY. I actually quite disliked this book - none of the characters, even Brooke, were redeemable. I was super uncomfortable with the idea that someone thought there was anything romantic about this story. I basically hate read 75% of it. Do not recommend unless you need an example of a relationship cautionary tale.

[Marissa Stapley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely and entertaining on the surface — but crack through to its core and discover a deep and thought-provoking meditation on the flaws and foibles of humanity. This book is beautifully, brutally honest, reminded me of being 23, made me forgive myself my lapses in judgment — and, made me long for whatever Clare will write next. Fans of Emily Giffin and Curtis Sittenfeld take note: this is your next read.
—Marissa Stapley, bestselling author of THE LAST RESORT

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so so impressed with how Kerry Clare was able to write from the perspective of the main character. This book is a story about a politician ‘caught’ in a ‘me too’ scandal. The book is written from the perspective of a girl who falls in love with the *bad guy* that so obviously sucks — but it’s so interesting to hear the many many ways a girl can totally get wrapped up and manipulated by *that kind of guy*. Personally, I think we’ve all been there (but I can only speak for myself) — continuously falling for and making excuses for *that guy* when you feel a pit in your stomach of shame just as strongly as the love and forgiveness. I highly recommend reading and opening yourself up to the perspective of someone who’s just totally and completely in love (with the wrong person).

Kudos to you Kerry Clare for exploring such a fascinating story!

[Sandy]

I have struggled with this book long enough. From how the synopsis read, I was expecting a stronger storyline along with a stronger female character. Simply not engaging enough to keep me reading a book in which I don't like any of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't enjoy this one all that much. I would disagree with the recommendation "for fans of Josie Silver and Emily Giffin".

[TracyGH · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book of the year. #152! What a year of reading that got me through so much.

This was a delightful surprise. It was a romance story, but more of an empowering story of what women excuse for the sake of a man.

Brooke, is a 23 year old, who has a workplace relationship with her much older boss. Brooke, who was the narrator was painfully naive and there were times when you wanted to yell at her. You then reflect and remember the silly mistakes you made when you were younger as well.
I personally can remember similar situations in my early 20s when you were new to the relationship scene and what you accepted then you would not allow now.

An easy read, but important for this #metoo time in history.

It is a Canadian author so this was an added bonus. This will totally date me but “Waiting for a Star to Fall” 80s song kept playing in my head the whole time I read this. 😂🤣

Cheers to more reading in 2021!

[Kristen Lawrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read “Waiting For A Star to Fall”, by Kelly Clare, and oh boy, oh boy it was a confronting read. I was NOT expecting the book to be so provocative from the blurb on the back cover. In fact, the back of the book gives the reader the idea that the novel is a light read about love and relationships, when it is really about power and abuse.

What Clare did so well is suspend readers in discomfort. The perspective of the lead character was so enraging to read that I almost put the book down out of fear of where the plot was going. In the end though, I found the discomfort was necessary, as it really highlighted the difficulties we still have holding perpetrators responsible.

[Samantha Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooke, 23 years old, is amidst a political scandal. Her ‘boyfriend’ Derek in at the center. Her ‘love story’ has made the papers and it’s causing havoc in her small town.

During the Me Too movement, this is such a poignant story in 2020. It was easy to put myself in Brooke’s place, thinking about the times this happened to me or other friends I know. Put this one on your list! Recommend.

(Ps - I read this in paper copy but I wish it had been audio, I think the emotion really would have translated well).

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent read. An original point of view and astoundingly on the money. The portrayal of power, blurred lines and manipulation, but most importantly- the portrayal of a woman. I really enjoyed this book at first but, by the end, I loved it. Extra marks for those Dirty Dancing references.

“You could be a fallen woman and then get up on the stage and dance.”

5 stars.

[Gina Buonaguro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's it like to be on the edge of a political sex scandal? Find out in this book. Also a coming-of-age story in the 21st century, trying to navigate sex and politics and sexual politics. A lot of food for thought.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was like watching a car crash where the only good thing happened was realising that the family dog survived at the very end.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book after 9pm, and it was long past my bedtime when I finally finished and turned off my light. It was impossible to put it down. A timely and timeless story about the power dynamics between charming men and the young women who adore them. The main character asserts that at 19, at 22, at 23, that she (and other women) were adults capable of making free choice, specifically at becoming involved with a man twice their age, and accepting the "rules of engagement" that included secrecy, emotional distance, and non-commitment. Strictly true, but my older self sees the flaws in that argument, and it makes me read Brooke as an unreliable narrator. This is supported by how Brooke introduces but dismisses the concerns raised by family and friends. Kerry Clare does a great job of keeping the story in Brooke's perspective and making the reader do the work of questioning her limited view.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting from the blurb on the cover, and this was neither a love story nor a provocative read. I struggled to get to the half way point because it was so boring, no hints about what the “love story” was until near the end of the book, I abandoned it altogether a couple of times, but finally made it through to the end. I guess my rating is low because I kept wishing the person who wrote the cover blurb had actually written the whole book...that’s a story I would like to read.

[Aura · Rating 3 out of 5]

If i could i’d give it a 2.5 stars. I don’t even know how or when i came across this book or what compelled me to buy it, but it was just very mediocre in my opinion. It had good moments but i just found most of it was a whole lot of nothing. The last third of the book was where it actually became interesting, even then though it was still not very captivating.

[Tina Othberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ouff. This one is so accurately written, dedication is to every woman who has ever been 23. I didn’t follow the same path as Brooke, but I do recognize the behaviours from my 23 year old self. It was uncomfortable at times to read and invoked a lot of emotions, the signs of a well written book!

[Ruby Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was such a hard thing to read. Being a feminist and hearing a girl defend a man’s actions and victim blame the whole book is AWFUL.

[Janet Hutchinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t say that I really enjoyed this book wholeheartedly. I found Brooke to be naive and a bit of a pain to read through. The pull of an older man, a politician who, while very popular, is actually a jerk to the women he employs and the ones he dates and sleeps with, can be heady, but he seemed over the top. Brooke had problems as well, with self respect and personal awareness, which is perfectly natural at 23.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Worth the read!
Looking forward to discussing book with some Instagram book friends.
Do I have questions about book!!!! Can't wait to discuss the book!
Great story Kerry Clare!

[Kaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Books Etc.

I am absolutely loving that more female, Canadian authors are publishing such smart, insightful novels these days. Kerry Clare's Waiting for a Star to Fall is the latest (just out today!) and I enjoyed it for the writing or the characters but mostly I liked it for the underlying commentary on today's society. It's intelligent, feminist, and a very good read.

I can't remember exactly when or how I learned that Waiting for a Star to Fall was sort of inspired by Patrick Brown's political rise, fall, and rise. I think it was from Clare herself on her Instagram account (which you should follow if you're not already) but I can't be sure. (So much info comes at you all the time these days!) You don't need to know his story to enjoy the novel because it's a story that's repeated often and not just in politics. Brown, like Murdoch, was embroiled in a sex scandal but then managed to come through it all relatively unscathed and ended up being elected mayor. What was trippy for me is I lived in Barrie, which was Brown's riding when he was MP. I was in my early twenties, just like Brooke, and I went to the bar where Brown also frequented (which was hilariously called Slappin' Nellies in Clare's book). I don't know how much Clare meant for the fictional Lanark to be Barrie but that's how I viewed it in my head.

Clare's novel looks at the nuances of Murdoch's story and how we can't always know who to trust, who is telling the truth, who is getting hurt the most. We can't know the whole story or why some women don't believe other women or choose to stand by the men who have allegedly done so much harm. We know there are two sides to every story but there are layers to each side that we often lose when we, the general public who have no connection to a scandal like Murdoch's, discuss and gossip and judge. I feel like that's a major point Clare is trying to make in this novel - and, if not, that was my biggest takeaway. We can't always know even though many of us, myself included, think we do and think we know what is best.

It's been a decade since I was 23 but I remember feeling as Brooke does, at least a little. I wasn't involved with a politician nor did I go through the things she does (no spoilers here) but the feeling like you're so far past being in university (which makes me laugh now, ten years later because 23 year olds are so young to me which is unfair to them and something I'm working on. I don't want to become a "kids these days" kind of person) and you think you have life figured out but you really, really don't. You're trying to find the friends to carry you through into adulthood while also figuring out who you are (which, I will say, is an ongoing process). That feeling. That's what I remember. Trying to navigate the real world and find your values. I admired Brooke for having strong feelings, which you only really see in the flashbacks because she's so lost in the present day, because at 23 I didn't know what the hell I thought about a lot of things.

I just know some people will be annoyed at the ending. I like how Clare left it, which is surprising because normally this kind of ending frustrates me. (Yes, that's vague. No spoilers, remember?) What did sort of confuse me is there was no link back to the very first news article in the novel that reports on Murdoch's successful mayoral bid. I did read an egalley so maybe things changed but, to me, that article may have been stronger at the end of the book.

I don't always love making comparisons because all books are so different but Clare's novel reminded me a little bit of Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Instead of racism, Clare's novel puts a spotlight on feminism and the Me Too movement and wraps it in a novel that is intelligent and an entertaining story.

Pick up Kerry Clare's novel because it's an entertaining, contemporary read. Stick with it because it is a perceptive, intelligent commentary of the world we're in. Waiting for a Star to Fall is a book that will stick with me for awhile because of how it made me think about how I view and consume news of the world around me.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Doubleday Canada/Penguin Random House Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori)]

DNF @ 25%

Really having a hard time with this one. The main character is really unreliable and the story is just not picking up. Not for me, unfortunately.

[Sue Trav · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt rushed to me. The story was vague in so many ways.

What were the actual allegations against Derek? They were skimmed over but never really brought to light. The same thing for his "punishment" for the alleged allegations. The relationship between Brooke and Derek was totally manipulative and controlling on his part. She was almost half his age and the author did a good job of portraying that age gap.

I finally started to like Brooke towards the end when she starts to think for herself (finally!) and then it was over. I would have liked her to have found her voice much sooner in the story.

Thanks to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

[Melanie Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ I deeply love books that can shed light to the raw & ugly sides of relationships. I’m so tired of unrealistic insta-love heavy books.
The treatment the main character receives in this is reality for many people. As well are her internal struggles & feelings.
This does not have a typical HEA, but the ending was perfect!!
& THE COVER IS STUNNING. Def why i originally purchased👀

[Hollay Ghadery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gawd, this book made me want to slap my 23-year-old self. I often grew frustrated with the narrator, precisely because she seemed to be the blind, dotting fool many of us are in our early twenties (and maybe even now). But I liken my response to Clare's book to the way I felt about Hoda in Adele Wiseman's Crackpot: it's not that the book itself is infuriating or the writing is poorly done: it's that the characters are infuriating, as real people actually are, and the writing accurately reflects that.
Well done!

[Anne Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many Canadian book lovers will be familiar with the author Kerry Clare, as she has her own wonderful blog where she reviews books, plus she’s the editor at 49thshelf.com which is a helpful resource for those looking to find the latest books being released in Canada. Clare’s second novel is Waiting for a Star to Fall, which is considered contemporary women’s fiction but goes a little deeper than what this genre typically offers. Despite what the blurbs say on the cover, this book is not really a love story at all, but a coming-of-age tale, and a warning to those who get caught up in someone else’s hopes and dreams. I read this book while the Matt Gaetz scandal simmers down south, and although this story has a different plotline, the allegations between the real-life politician and the fictitious one in this novel are hard to ignore; men behaving badly both on and off the page!

Plot Summary

Brooke is 23, killing time at a job she doesn’t care much for, and living in a basement apartment with one window that allows her a view of people’s footwear only. She’s most recently moved back to her small hometown after working for a few years in a whirlwind job in a big city as a staffer for the well-loved politician and party leader Derek Murdoch. As the book progresses, we learn why Brooke left such a plum position and how she ended up where she is now, living underground without any friends to lean on. Through a series of flashbacks and newspaper articles, Brooke’s past year comes into focus; Derek was a well-loved ‘everyman’ with a desire to do good in the community, but with a slightly shady reputation when it came to women, especially those younger than him. Although he’s in his late 30’s and technically her boss, he begins a clandestine relationship with Brooke, then we quickly discover he’s been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple other women. As Brooke sorts through her conflicting feelings about Derek, his reputation is both built up then torn down by emerging eyewitness accounts and statements, and us readers are along for this rollercoaster ride of emotions.

My Thoughts

What I loved and appreciated the most about this novel was the author’s tender depiction of Brooke, and the highs and lows of being at the beginning of one’s adult life, especially as a woman. In some ways we women are treated as adults in our 20s; expected to live on our own, work, and build a life. But in other ways, especially in the eyes of men, we are a trophy of sorts, their belief that we are so innocent that we lack any sort of agency, and so young that nothing really serious can damage us emotionally either. Any woman will know this is unfair, but the type of romantic relationships we choose at that age can have such a lasting impact on our self-esteem, it’s worth the time and analysis that this book gives to that particular stage of life. At first glance the novel’s marketing blurb may lend one to believe that it focuses on the silliness of this age, but the fact that this book is dedicated to ‘every woman who was ever 23’ is really an acknowledgement of how careful we must be when judging young people who find themselves at this precipice of adulthood.

Something else that this book does a really good job of depicting is another facet to the #metoo movement, and the various shades women find themselves in when personally involved in these situations. The language of this book is straightforward, and because it is mainly plot-driven, we rarely get bogged down in description or unnecessary detail. Still, we do spend quite a bit of time in Brooke’s head, and her internal conflict over whether to defend Derek or not is strangely comforting to read, because it reminds us that no one has the playbook, even those who are in politics and used to spinning stories to their own advantage. She seems genuinely skeptical as to whether these allegations about Derek are true, yet she’s reluctant to voice these concerns because she doesn’t want to seem like a ‘bad feminist’, especially because Derek himself has proclaimed himself a feminist (for more on being a bad feminist, Margaret Atwood’s essay from a few years ago highlights the range of viewpoints one can find in the general label of ‘feminist’).

Derek’s guilt or innocence is beside the point, in fact, I didn’t care either way about him or his actions, it was the impact of them that had me riveted. His character is expertly drawn in this book, because it reminded me of so many men (boys) I have known, and will no doubt continue to come across for years to come. You know the ones I’m talking about; charming, smooth, and rarely worth the trouble. Still, it was fun to revisit this time in my life through the eyes and experiences of Brooke, but it also made me so thankful for the current stability I enjoy with my husband.

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[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerry Clare's Waiting for a Star to Fall tells the story of Brooke, a young woman much like many sharing their stories in the #MeToo movement. Brooke is barely out of high school and partying at a club when she is approached by handsome, charismatic politician Derek Murdoch. The novel begins a few years later, after their relationship had already failed, and Derek is in the news due to accusations made against him by other young staffers. It then switches back and forth from the week the accusations come out, and the "before" times, when Brooke and Derek had a relationship.

What sets Clare's novel apart from a lot of the media discourse around the #MeToo movement is that Clare sets the story at a point where Brooke herself is still ambivalent about her feelings for Derek. She's quick to jump to his defence, never going so far as to call his accusers liars, but rather firm in her conviction that what she had with him wasn't abuse. Moreover, despite the truly reprehensible way he treated her in the final days of their relationship (I clearly have strong feelings about him!), Brooke very clearly still cares for him.

Waiting for a Star to Fall is an emotionally difficult read, not just because of the all-too-real, all-too-familiar story of a #MeToo experience, but also because of how it explores the long-lasting effects of this abuse. Like it is for many women who experience abuse, moving on from Derek isn't as easy for Brooke as it may seem on the outside. Rather, it's a years-long, multi-step process, first acknowledging the wrong done to you, then trying to rid yourself of the last vestiges of emotional ties to your abuser.

Clare takes us through Brooke's entire journey on this front, from Brooke's initial infatuation with Derek, all the way to her present-day struggle to maintain control over her own narrative. It's tough to read, and potentially triggering. The entire time Brooke is falling in love with Derek, I just wanted to yell at her to get away, and it was gut-wrenching to not be able to stop the relationship and its inevitable decline from happening. The ending, while too realistic to be an uncomplicated happily ever after, was satisfying. And it provided the kind of closure that made me hope and believe that Brooke will be all right.

Something else I appreciated about this novel was its frank portrayal of abortion. [Spoiler redacted] gets one. The decision, event, and aftermath are treated as the major life events they are, but never with shame or censure. [Spoiler redacted] makes an informed, rational choice to abort, and is even level-headed enough to know the period of time that must elapse before she can resume having sex without risking infection. She declares, unequivocally, that she regrets getting pregnant in the first place, but doesn't regret the abortion. She even gives a shout-out to the movie Dirty Dancing, which was the first time she saw on screen a character who outright wanted an abortion, and whose agency wasn't taken away from her by a convenient miscarriage. Kerry Clare gives us a frank, sympathetic portrayal of a decision that's very personal and complex, and that unfortunately still faces tremendous social stigma. More of this in fiction, please.

+

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Abigail Pollard · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is gonna sound cold, but I would give it 0 stars if I could.

I wanted to love this book. I opened it and immediately thought I was having a stroke. I thought maybe I was having an off day and I was distracted. No matter what, I couldn’t get the words to absorb. Then, I realize, ITS NOT ME!! It’s the 5-line-long run on sentences. Also the absolutely abhorrent rephrasing of basic sentences to try to make them more elegant which just makes them literally illiterate. So, I stepped away and took a break.

I come back a few hours later, I open the book, bam. Another run on sentence that must’ve been along six lines long. Are you kidding? And six lines in a book is a lotttt of words. I’m starting to wonder if I was sent an unedited copy or something. The second hand embarrassment I feel for the author and editor is WILD. I mean, I’m pro-Oxford comma but there were more commas in these sentences than thorns on a rose.

Some authors can take simple sentences that we hear every day and rephrase them to sound magical. Those sentences where you read them and have an A-Ha 💡‘ that was so creative’ moment. Those kinds of rephrasing techniques can not be used on every single sentence. You can’t force it. But this book? Phew. It feels almost fraudulent in the way it tries to recreate basic English to make it more creative. Like the writer was trying so hard to do that magical lightbulb moment and it just turned out like the first 1000 lightbulbs that Edison made: broken. If you’re gonna reinvent the wheel, don’t aim for a trapezoid.

The plot isn’t even legible because of the amount of grammatical mistakes. Each sentence is loaded with unnecessary words that don’t come off as ‘creative’. Its just word salad. To me, it gives me the vibe that it was written to appeal to scholars, but the actual ability to pull that type of writing off just isn’t there.

I think this book HAD potential. I thought that just from reading the summary. I think the editor who let these criminal mistakes slide is at fault for this turning into what it is. Because when you can’t get past page 21 without a migraine, that’s a problem.

I know that to give a proper review I should keep reading on, but I won’t. I can’t give a decent review if the author can’t write a decent book. I can’t read a book like this and feel like I’m supposed to be the editor and not the reader.

I hate doing this. I hate giving bad reviews. I wanted to love it! But I don’t. I can’t. I’m gonna go take some aspirin now to help with this headache.

PS. Penguin Random House? For the love of god don’t let this editor near another book. Ever.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably 2.5 ⭐️..

I wanted to really love this book and although I did enjoy the perspective it was written from, I felt it lacked the depth and character development I was anticipating. It seemed so little time was spent on the true development of Brooke and Derek as both individuals and as a couple, and far too much time was spent on, for lack of a better word, general waffle. I was waiting for the storyline to pick up past the 100 page mark, and in my opinion, it never really did.

*Potential Spoilers Ahead*

I connected with Brooke over her inability to see Derek in any sort of negative light, as I think many people have experienced being blinded by love at some time or another. However, I found this inability dragged out far too long and when her perspective finally did change, the book abruptly ended. I understand this was more or less the point of the story, that sometimes it takes every ounce of your being to be tested in order to see the light, but I do believe Brooke's character could have been explored a little further after she came to these realizations.

This book seemed to drag on in some parts but felt entirely rushed in others. I found it annoying that the author never truly explained the allegations against Derek, but instead mentions them in roundabout ways throughout the book. The reader is just expected to pick up on what was going on, and although it might be obvious in the post #metoo era we are living in, I think more explanation here would have added to the story.

After writing this review it may seem as though I really didn't enjoy this book, which I wouldn't actually say is the case. It was ok - I'm glad I committed to finishing it, I just think there was so much more that could have been done with this great storyline.

[Mardi Michels · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Brooke has long been caught in the orbit of Derek, a rising political superstar. First he was her boss, then they were friends and she became his confidant, the one person he shared everything with. And even though she had feelings for him--it was hard to resist; he's charming and handsome, respected and beloved--she never dreamed he'd feel the same way. Derek is so much older and could have anyone he wanted.

But it turns out that who Derek wants is Brooke, and suddenly none of the reasons they shouldn't be together matter. They fall in love [...]

Then it all falls apart, and Brooke is left holding the pieces of the life they'd shared. Derek becomes embroiled in a scandal--the kind Brooke never could have imagined he'd be involved in--and she is forced to re-examine their relationship and make sense of the man she loves."

Oh my goodness - so much to unpack here. I LOVE Kerry Clare's writing and was eager to read this one. It was an uncomfortable read for me, definitely not what I'd call a love story but sensitively handled, given the subject matter. You'll find yourself yelling at Brooke (and Derek) - I had very strong opinions about how I think Brooke should have handled things (and stopped defending Derek!) but it seems these things aren't always so cut and dry. A provocative read.

[Kate Viner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting for a Star to Fall is the first of Kerry Clare’s novels for me and oof, did I feel this. A 23-year old female staffer gets involved with her much older, very handsome and charismatic politician-boss who has a history of sleeping around with younger women on his team. But he tells her that their relationship is different - that it’s the real thing. And of course she believes him despite alllllll the signs to the contrary - because if you’ve been in a relationship like this, one small act of sweetness can make up for all sorts of acts of dickishness. And when he is inevitably embroiled in a #MeToo scandal, she is his number one defender as she is still under his spell. It’s cringey, for sure, but it’s real and I found this book just so sad and heartbreaking since I’ve sort of been that girl. Honestly, being young and naive and in love and gaslit is HARD. And Kerry nails these feelings in this novel.

I don’t think this should be described as a love story and I would imagine this would be a very frustrating book if you can’t relate and have never been in a relationship with any type of power imbalance but if you have, there’s some validation here that it’s not just you. I want to hug the main character of this novel. And I want to give my younger self a hug right now too.

[Becky Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book and I saw myself in Brooke in so many ways and in so many of her situations. I like the pot offered two perspectives on the metoo movement, you don’t really see that these days. You don’t see a whole lot of people offering the other side (the mans side) and the author nailed it when it was noted that the accusations never led to charges or a trial. They were at the end of the hearsay. Do I believe Derek’s character was capable of ‘misconduct’? I can see it yes but it was important that the author also made sure someone played devils advocate even if that person was Brooke. I really did however feel like the ending was so abrupt and anticlimactic. It fell short of what it felt like the author was building up. Brooke had this huge revelation and she finally started to transform but only in the last two pages. I would have liked to have seen her fully take back her life and confront Derek and have those moments with those secondary characters who deserved to see her recognize what had happened to her. The ending was unsatisfying.