And The Stars Kept Watch

by Peter Friedrichs

Can a couple's marriage survive a life-changing loss when one of them is responsible for the tragedy?

And the Stars Kept Watch is the story of Catherine and Nathan Osgood, a young couple who has everything they desire. Nathan is married to the woman of his dreams and has a great career to match. Catherine, with her two young boys, has the family and the life she's yearned for. With a momentary lapse of judgment, Nathan causes an accident that will alter the course of their lives forever. How do they recover from this horrific event?

Heartbreaking and hopeful, And the Stars Kept Watch explores universal themes of love, grief, recovery, and redemption, and calls us to consider whether "the unforgivable" can ever be forgiven.

Genres: Fiction, Grief, Literary Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no way I can review this book that will ever do it the justice that it deserves but I will try my best to convey to you the power of this book.

Imagine this: A young, happily married couple Nathan and Catherine, living their dream life in the Maine wilderness with their two young sons, Jacob and Joseph, only four and six years old.

Imagine this: Those two young boys are ripped from your lives in a tragic set of circumstances. Nathan having made a decision that ultimately took the two boys lives.

How does one recover from such tragedy?

We follow Nathan and Catherine over the next two years after the accident. The anguish, the pain, the guilt - be prepared - you will be deep down in those murky waters of despair right with our characters.

I choked on tears and had to put this book down on several occasions. When the characters howl in pain and collapse in a puddle of tears it just about broke me.

I feel like the authors portrayal of grief was accurate. The turmoil of emotions felt very real and their thought processes felt very authentic. I ached for Catherine and Nathan and what they have been through.

While the circumstances that brought them to this precipice is beyond horribly tragic it brings them both a glimmer of hope as they discover themselves in the process and find through that emotional outlets that will ultimately save them without relying on one another.

"On nights like this those stars, which she knew were lightyears away, felt as close as her own beating heart."

A powerful piece of fiction that I will not soon forget. 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for my copy.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure exactly how to review And the Stars Kept Watch. I want to do it justice, but this isn't a casual novel you read to escape. You read this book to feel something deeply. It's definitely not an easy read. The subject matter is deeply emotional and heartbreaking. However, it's a beautifully written novel about surviving a painful life-changing event and finding a way to live through it. It's a story about finding a way to forgive the unforgivable and eventually find a kind of peace. This story felt realistic and relatable. Through the darkness, the characters eventually find their way to a new normal and with that, hope.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled this book. I'll be thinking about these people and their journeys for a long time. Very very nicely written and very relatable as they say.

A few favorite bits: p 173 - the words about trust. p. 177 - "please don't call me sweetie". WOW... been there. p. 204 - "you challenge me and make me feel like I'm up for the challenge, all at the same time." And the last line before the epilogue struck deep chords. "Here I am Lord", sort of stuff.

I'll recommend this to friends and family. I'm not interested in mysteries, crime, or fantastical myths. Real life is all that and more - just look at a story like any one of ours. This story is real and well-told.

[Gregory Pelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unblinking reflection on grief and healing — particularly during a time of accumulating losses. While not a happy story, “And the Stars...” is perhaps one of the more honest novels I’ve read in some time. If one is looking to “escape” into a story, this probably isn’t the one I’d recommend. But if you are seeking to reflect on your own loss and grief - living through Catherine and Nathan’s spirals may be a way in.

[Sue Hendrixson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an excellent read. It it heart wrenching, yet you just need to see how it can possibly play out. There are some very good twists and turns along the way.

[Annielew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - no fireworks, just intense, real people struggling with life. If every therapist were as good as the ones in the book, we'd all be in much better shape! The settings, all of them, really called to me - the descriptions were beautiful.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: Child Death, Suicide attempt, Grief

I highly recommend And The Stars Kept Watch, I think I highlighted half the book because it’s descriptions of the stages of grief are so accurate. It is so eloquently worded, you will feel every emotion in your heart - even the title of the book and it’s meaning is so comforting as I choose to believe our loved ones energy becomes a cosmic force with the universe. This book and it’s message will stay with me forever.
A box of Kleenex will be needed for this one!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. This book was so painful and real to read. Painful in such a way not because of the superb writing, but because the subject matter. Because Peter Friedrichs prose is so strong, I felt every emotion the characters were feeling. Its difficult for a book to do that to me as a reader. Catherine and Nathan have it all - two young, happy boys, Nathan with his own thriving business and Catherine, a former law school graduate, adapting well to being a homemaker and mother. Tragedy strikes in one of the worst ways possible and their lives change immediately and permanently. The story was so compelling and absorbing that I had to sometimes take a break just to think. Nathan and Catherine's characters are well-rounded and so very human. Although some may not like the outcome of the story, I appreciated it because sometimes life doesn't end up perfectly and people move in different directions. Probably one of the best books I will read in 2021.

[Ruth Hendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful and compelling novel. Peter Friedrichs creates a world that invites you into experience in all its beauty and harshness. You get to know and care for, cheer on, and share in the suffering and healing. It was valuable to be able to read the wisdom of 2 talented healers.
I sometimes just read 1 chapter at a time to allow it marinate in my imagination. This book will stay with me for a long time as I process all it brought to me.

[Lyn]

I stayed up too late reading the first night I picked up this book, and drank the rest down in one long gulp the next day. The story is haunting, human, and ultimately hopeful.

[Rachel Whitman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read, and it is so hard to reconcile my pulled heartstrings and review it based on anything else. The experience that Catherine and Nathan endured at the beginning of the book is one we all fear the most, and I cannot fathom the grief and turmoil that was their life following that accident. I thought the way the author handled this piece of the story was done so with grace and well-thought consideration. Watching the growth that occurred as a result in both of our characters was beautiful.

One thing I felt could have been improved upon was the organic flow of dialogue between characters. Some of the back and forth felt forced, if not awkward. I realize that some interactions would be naturally awkward; i.e. the meetings between Catherine and Nathan. This was also something I found in the typical day-to-day conversations where we wouldn’t expect such awkwardness. This, at times, made the story feel a little choppy.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book, and definitely was hit hard in the feels throughout. Overall rating is a 3.75.

[Tom Rendulich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. The heart-wrenching tragedy that undermines the seemingly perfect world inhabited by Catherine and Nate becomes the powerful tool for examining a variety of core personal and relational challenges. The theme that resonated most with me was forgiveness. Peter Friedrichs captures the complex internal challenges one must grapple with in order to forgive a grievous mistake. Can one forgive another? Can one forgive oneself? Peter's answer to these questions is not simplistic, formulaic, or preachy. Instead he captures the complexity of forgiveness while still offering a way out, even if it's not perfectly complete. To me, this beautifully written book offered a more useful lens into the path of forgiveness than any self-help book could ever achieve.

[Calista Andrechek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Peter Friedrichs and Atmosphere Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a difficult read for me in the beginning because of the loss of children. The writing after that though is beautiful and I enjoyed reading about how the parents in this situation came to be able to survive with the loss. It's definitely a slow and difficult read at times, but it is so human and you really feel immersed in their lives and losses. You really want them to be able to find some sort happiness or joy in their lives. Definitely a worthwhile read.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly challenging book to read…and well worth the investment of time and attention! I highly recommend it.

Nathan and Catherine Osgood are the parents of two adorable sons ages 4 and 6 years old. They live an almost idyllic life in a small, rural town in southwestern Maine surrounded by the beauty of nature. Nathan has a successful financial planning firm and Catherine voluntarily gave up a rising career as a bankruptcy lawyer to raise their family. One Saturday morning, in early spring, an adventure turns into a heart-breaking tragedy and, in the aftermath, their marriage hangs in the balance.

The book explores a broad spectrum of emotional issues including love, grief, sorrow, blame, forgiveness, recovery, and redemption. The descriptions of Nathan’s and Catherine’s reactions and responses to the trauma are raw and compelling without becoming maudlin. The author, who is a Unitarian pastor, addresses the deep, personal work required to heal with great sensitivity and compassion. There is definitely a spiritual overtone without being overtly religious in nature, which I appreciated. The storyline kept me fully engaged and I applaud the author’s realistic and inspiring ending, which reveals that even in the midst of great loss, there is the opportunity to heal into a meaningful future.

My thanks to the author, Atmosphere Press, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagining the Unimaginable

Not an easy read by far.
Mr. Friedrichs introduces us to your quintessential family soon faced with the worst tragedy possible.
Emotional, insightful journey showing the parents’ fight from the loss of their children to a functional, meaningful life through grief and despair.
Great writing, I’ll be on the lookout for this author’s next book. Hopefully with a lighter to subject matter.

Thank you Atmosphere Press for the free copy of this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and beautiful story.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this novel in a Giveaway so thank you to Goodreads, Peter Friedrichs, and the publisher for making that possible.

Insightful and moving. Peter Friedrichs has succeeded with his first novel in giving us a beautiful story about loss and the ability to forgive.

Can love really conquer all?

I fell deeply into this book and found myself weeping with the characters.

My least favorite character was the female protagonist. I understand why Friedrichs writes her character the way he does and without her the powerful themes he's writing about would have lost that power but she still infuriated me.

I desperately want there to be a sequel to this novel.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the truly last heartbreaking book I have ever read was Wreck by Kirstin Cronn-Mills and this one is a close second.
Nathan and Catherine have the perfect family and perfect life until a tragic event pulls their life apart. Nathan is to blame for the accident that tears his and Catherine's life apart.. It truly is a hearbreaking read and it took me a while to finish it. Not because it wasn't good, but it was such a heartwrenching book. Nate and Catherine's emotions grabbed my heart from the beginning and did not let it go. Because of that, I had to take a number of breaks to get a hold of my emotions and remember it was only a book. You will become attached to these characters, because they could be anybody...including ourselves.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for the ARC of this emotional, heartbreaking but beautifully written work of art.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Friedrichs does a masterful job of weaving together the stories of Catherine and Nathan, alternating by chapter the primary focus on their respective processes of grieving and healing guided by their skilled therapists. This technique allows the reader to fully appreciate the anguish and growth of both protagonists, and to “root” for them both without having to choose sides. On several occasions I found myself feeling frustrated or even angry with each of them for their decisions, which speaks to how fully engrossed I was in Nathan’s and Cat’s stories and their pain. By the end of the book I thought I had fully grappled with my feelings about them, individually and as a couple - but then I read the thought-provoking discussion questions after the Epilogue and realized I had only begun to process the intensity of this powerful book’s impact on me.

[Kailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere press for the digital ARC!

This book is so thought provoking and beautiful but also so sad! Nathan and Katherine experience a tremendous loss and this is the story of how they individually deal with the grief and pain to eventually recover and heal. I could easily connect with the characters and befriend them which made the journey through this book very emotional.

[sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compelling story of a young couple dealing with a tragic loss touched my heart and evoked a full range of emotions. Peter Friedrich's novel is well crafted and includes wonderfully descriptive language that makes it easy to visualize Catherine and Nathan's idyllic life in the Maine countryside and how completely that life was transformed by the unimaginable. Readers join Catherine and Nathan on their respective journeys as they suffer through sadness, blame, guilt, and grief, eventually forging their own paths toward self-discovery and healing. While this was not an easy book to put down, taking time to reflect on the emotions of Catherine and Nathan and analyze the choices they made was worthwhile, though sometimes I felt that solutions came about far too easily for this privileged couple. I truly appreciate the strong female characters in this story, especially how Catherine's personal growth led to positive change. This is a touching and memorable book, one that will remain with me for a long time.

[Sonal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nathan and Catherine are living an ideal life in Maine with their two young boys. One day tragedy strikes and how they each cope with grief and try to move on with life is the basis for this story.

This book was very well written and really gives you a glimpse of how people grieve in different ways. My heart broke for both Nathan and Catherine. Even without twists and suspense, this book kept my interest, it seems like something so simple, but it had so much depth. I never felt that the story dragged, although I do feel it could have been a few chapters shorter. I truly appreciated the emotions conveyed in the story and I appreciated the ending. There were a few "too good to be true" parts, where things just worked out too easily, but it was a really good depiction of how someone can move past an unfathomable tragedy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for the review copy of this book.

[Susan Meier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will just grab your heart and you will come to love Nathan and Catherine. In the last year we have come to realize just how important a strong support system is to survive challenges. The characters were only able to get thru a heartbreaking tragedy with the support of friends and family. I learned so much about grief and the processes to get thru a tragic event. I loved this book created by a
gifted writer and cannot wait to read his next one.

[Deborah Stimson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What began as a page turning dramatic tragedy that was almost too difficult to keep reading, became a reflection on love, hope, forgiveness and finding strength through giving. Having endured several losses of my own recently this book resonated deeply with my own passage. The ways in which Peter Frederich's characters endure their loss, and through very small steps forward find redemption in helping others, is a positive message built on human truths. The simple goodness in this book is a lesson for us all in a time of fear and cynicism. I believed this story. I was shocked, entertained, touched and reminded of what I value the most.

Peter Frederich's is an excellent writer with a clear, specifically imagined, dramatic style. I look forward to his next book.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book steals your breath, wrenches your heart, and yet you will not stop turning the page. Catherine and Nathan Osgood have the perfect life. A young couple that settled in the perfect town, built their dream house, then to complete their lives they have two wonderful little boys. Nathan and Cat have everything they could have dreamt of, until a bad decision, leads to an accident that wrenches the dream life apart and shatters it into a million pieces. I can't say more without giving spoilers, which I never do!! #AndTheStarsKeptWatch is so well written and the story flows so well that I couldn't put this book down. It is one that will stay with me for years. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Jenn Oglesbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read the last page, I wiped away my tears and spent some time just sitting with this book in my lap, trying to absorb it all. The emotional landscape of this book is breathtaking. At times it was nearly unbearable in its intensity, but the fact that I experienced it so deeply speaks volumes to its beauty and craft. 

As gut-wrenching as it sometimes was, I found it deeply compelling. I became so invested in these characters that I couldn't turn away, tearing through the book in a matter of days. In those few days I feel as though I've experienced every possible feeling on the spectrum of human emotion, but in the most life-affirming way. 

I appreciate that this book doesn't offer easy answers or shy away from brutal truths, yet it affirms again and again the power of love, healing, and our ability to not only survive the unthinkable but to move through our pain, honor it, and find something beautiful on the other side (even if that something is not what we hoped for). 

This is not an easy read, but it's absolutely a worthwhile one. The author has taken me on a beautiful, painful, heart-opening journey that I will not soon forget. I can't remember the last time that I became so emotionally entwined with characters in a book. This is one of those stories that will stick with me for a long time.

[ANN MARIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story from beginning to ending, not knowing what was going to unfold from moment to moment. The story gives you a powerful lesson on how a strong support system can not only assist you through horrifying tragedy but also enable you to rediscover your true self.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. Nathan and Catherine Osgood have everything: a strong marriage, he has a good job and she's a stay at home mom, a lovely house and two wonderful kids (Joe and Jacob). Nathan likes to blow off steam with outdoor adventures since her grew up in Maine and has to been known to reckless at times like back country skiing. When a horrific tragedy occurs and their kids die, Catherine and Nathan's relationship is forever changed. How do you go back to the life you had before? Is it it even possible? Is forgiveness possible?

The first half of this book was good, and I really felt bad for Nathan. One bad decision changed his entire life. The rest of the book was a bit of struggle because it mixes religion, criminal justice, and the need for fresh start in a mish-mosh of a mess. I appreciate that there had to be a trial and Nathan had to answer his actions, and was happy it good result even though he was found guilty (this was predictable). But there were about 100 extra pages between Catherine and Nathan's POV that could have been resolved sooner. I also hated the ending and the very last sentence, it left the book open to think the story could continue into another book.

Parts of this book were well written but the rest of the book was a mess and I love the cover work. Can still recommend this if you are a reader than likes books with religion and heavy messages. NOT a favorite, somewhere in the middle.

Thanks to Netgalley, Peter Friedrichs and Atmosphere Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 5/15/21

[Holly | Holly’s Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can the perfect marriage survive a life-altering tragedy when only one is to blame? This is the story of Nathan and Catherine Osgood, a young couple who have everything they could ever want and more. When Nathan causes a horrific accident, life as they know it will change forever. Peter Friedrichs asks the question, can the unforgivable be forgiven?

When you read this book, make sure you give it the time it deserves. This book was a slow read, but it was necessary in order to fully explore and comprehend the complex emotions felt by the characters. I took my time reading this book so I could pause and reflect on the concept of loss, grief, and forgiveness. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful, and I loved every second of it. The only reason I gave it a 3.5 is because of how angry Catherine’s character made me throughout the book. Sometimes I felt like she just wasn’t being fair to Nathan. However, maybe that’s what makes this book so beautiful-grief comes in many shapes and sizes. We all experience it differently and react in our own way.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for giving me the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It flowed so well, it was hard to put down. I was able to identify with the characters and the struggles they were going through. I liked the ways in which they grew, and showed a model for how to handle difficulties with compassion.