The Stars Don’t Lie: A Novel
A man who thought he put his shattered past behind him embarks on a reflective journey home in a heartfelt novel by the bestselling author of The Singing Trees and A Spanish Sunrise.
Haunted by a tragic decision he made twenty years ago, veterinarian Dr. Carver Livingston has not once returned to his Vermont hometown. Now his parents’ impending divorce and his mother’s plea for support lure Carver to a reluctant homecoming. His mission: sweep into Teterbury, save a marriage, and get out before anyone else from his past knows he was even there. Fate has other plans.
It’s hard to hide from former friends. Harder still to fight old feelings for the crushing and beautiful high school soulmate whom he dreams of pursuing again. And Mrs. Cartwright, his fragile English teacher, who once pulled Carver out of sadness. She taught him to always look up and to see life’s grander perspective in the stars. Now it’s Carver’s turn to help Mrs. Cartwright find those bright lights in the dark.
Against his need to leave, Carver decides to stay longer, as he, his mother and father, and Mrs. Cartwright are all at turning points in their lives. Hope is not lost. If they look up, they’ll see that tonight, the stars still shine.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0BLZT38NZ
Publisher : Lake Union Publishing
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : August 22, 2023
Language : English
File size : 5.4 MB
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 343 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1662508776
Page Flip : Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #13,650 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #140 in Coming of Age Fiction (Kindle Store) #141 in Friendship Fiction (Kindle Store) #287 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (18,198) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Original price was: $16.99.$4.99Current price is: $4.99.
A man who thought he put his shattered past behind him embarks on a reflective journey home in a heartfelt novel by the bestselling author of The Singing Trees and A Spanish Sunrise.
Haunted by a tragic decision he made twenty years ago, veterinarian Dr. Carver Livingston has not once returned to his Vermont hometown. Now his parents’ impending divorce and his mother’s plea for support lure Carver to a reluctant homecoming. His mission: sweep into Teterbury, save a marriage, and get out before anyone else from his past knows he was even there. Fate has other plans.
It’s hard to hide from former friends. Harder still to fight old feelings for the crushing and beautiful high school soulmate whom he dreams of pursuing again. And Mrs. Cartwright, his fragile English teacher, who once pulled Carver out of sadness. She taught him to always look up and to see life’s grander perspective in the stars. Now it’s Carver’s turn to help Mrs. Cartwright find those bright lights in the dark.
Against his need to leave, Carver decides to stay longer, as he, his mother and father, and Mrs. Cartwright are all at turning points in their lives. Hope is not lost. If they look up, they’ll see that tonight, the stars still shine.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0BLZT38NZ
Publisher : Lake Union Publishing
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : August 22, 2023
Language : English
File size : 5.4 MB
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 343 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1662508776
Page Flip : Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #13,650 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #140 in Coming of Age Fiction (Kindle Store) #141 in Friendship Fiction (Kindle Store) #287 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (18,198) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
11 reviews for The Stars Don’t Lie: A Novel
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Original price was: $16.99.$4.99Current price is: $4.99.
Clydeine Oglesby –
Makes you think about unfounded fears and those that touch our lives.
This guy has a way with words that I love. The story line dragged a little in the middle, but it is a wonderful book about relationships and those that unknowingly touch the lives of others in wonderful ways. It’s a really good read. I plan to read more of his work.
ct1156 –
Good, if predictable, offering
I’ve been reading stories voraciously for approximately 55 or 6 of my 63 years so there aren’t a lot of surprises in fiction novels anymore. This causes them to have the most value for me in the storyline, character development, scene setting, and dialogue. I very much enjoy Boo Walker’s storytelling, and this book was good, if not my favorite of his. The 38 year old protagonist has many life lessons to learn, and learn them he does, taking along a few older characters who seemingly need even more learning, faster, which make it a more interesting read for a larger age group. Often older supporting characters are just smiling sages nodding in the background without developed storylines. This book gave me all of the feels, including real chuckles and tears, and there are dogs! They, unfortunately, did not have very developed storylines, but they are there, and valued, so it’s a win. Reading the afterword, I see this is a tribute to a teacher who had a hand in shaping the author’s writing life, and it does a very good job of that..
Cathy –
Boo Walker does it again! Loved it!
Carver is not the typical male character lead that you would expect. He has so many layers to unravel. When we meet him, he is a successful veterinarian with his own practice. But he doesn’t really have a personal life. He gets an invitation to speak at his 20th high school reunion, but can’t even consider it because of demons of his pasts. He hasn’t returned home in 20 years. His parents are struggling with some issues and convince him to come home for a few days to give some support. So he decided he would go for a few days to give them support, but not let his visit be known to others.Little does Carver know life changing events are about to take place, not only for him but for his parents, his friends, and most importantly his beloved teacher Mrs. Cartwright. Carver is finally able to confront his past relationships and the terrible event that he’s been running from. By giving back to the person who really helped form him and helped him through a difficult time of his life; he learns to love himself and opens himself up to find love. This story has so many wonderful characters to pull for and fall in love with. I especially loved his relationship with his teacher and the appreciation he had for her. Teachers I feel are often those unsung heroes. We all can remember at least one wonderful teacher who has impacted our lives. I appreciated that Boo put some light on the struggles that couples may have as they age and relationships may change. Also the pain that comes from the loss of a partner and how hard it can be to move forward. Thank you Boo for this wonderful story.
Dumpling –
Actually 3.5 stars
This was a pretty good book. There were some profound insights on heartbreak, loneliness, disconnection, disengagement, family life, parent-child relations, and the potential impact of caring adults on adolescents. These resonated with me and some of these passages were almost lyrical in their beauty. However, there were some ploys that were too obvious such as going on and on about a terrible tragedy that happened to the protagonist without revealing exactly what it was for several chapters. This irritated rather than held my interest. Also after a while, the protagonist came off as whiny and obsessed in his persistence with holding on to past sadness, particularly when it became clear he had no reason to do so. Finally, I felt the recurring image of the stars was over emphasized. At one point I wanted to scream at the author, “I get it. Can we move on?” But despite these flaws, the book was quite enjoyable and I think would make a great movie.
Peaks Island Murph –
Outlander’s Jamie and Claire would love Boo Walkers The Stars Don’t Lie!!
My wife asked me about Boo’s writing and I said he develops characters and storylines much like Stephen King and Diana Gabaldon where we meet people in settings that have rich descriptions that absolutely allow the reader to envision each setting, each interaction, streets and towns, grapevines on mountains, both physical and mental scars/flaws/beauty in the characters, and really develops each storyline within a Story until the reader is interacting (and probably saying things out loud) with the characters in the story.I have enjoyed Boo’s writing only since April 2023 when I learned about the author and started An Unfinished story and I felt I was back in St Pete of the 80’s walking on the beach and driving in town.I have now completed reading all of his books to date, and I look forward to more of his great stories, and now I begun his Benjamin Blackmore Series, and I am not disappointed!!My wife has just completed the 4 Red Mountain prequel and trilogy series and couldn’t put them down until she finished all. She has begun The Singing Trees, and again, the light in the bedroom stays on late while she reads!!Stars Don’t Lie is a wonderfully written Book and great read.Thank you Boo, and write them faster LOL
Middlebrow –
Full of wisdom
It would have been 5 stars but I thought his repeated anxiety could have been handled differently. It does reflect my t thinking inyears of fear of getting hurt. a similar situation… guilt and shame and fear of being hurt again. So maybe it was just too close to home! My thinking didn’t change in a few weeks like his, but he has moments of enlightenment as well. … Spiritual/mystical experiences. Mine was therapy and a happy marriage. 20 yrs later. Walker has captured the thoughts and feelings perfectly.I didn’t carry a torch for the former lover though, just hurt. I totally lost touch with the friends from that 6 year period before therapy. I looked up the guy. 30 years later. . it turned out he had had several failed marriages, and I couldnt get angry. But I regret the 20
Family of 4 + fur baby! –
I eagerly devour any book by this author. And I’m always extremely satisfied….his books hit me on a soul deep level every time❤️This one absolutely spoke to me and I think I needed to read it right now and lift my spirits while unloading unnecessary burdens I’ve placed upon myself.Lots of great lessons in this one!
TC –
Excellent.
J. Gilbert –
I absolutely loved this book. The story is so true to the way life intervenes with our plans it really puts things into perspective.On cold frosty nights I too get great pleasure from gazing across the heavens and feeling an affinity with life itself.
Jessie –
When I tell you this story had a pull on me !!The last hour and a half I sobbed ( happy emotional tears listening on audio ). What an absolute beautiful story !!
Ursula Russell –
I loved this story much more than the other Boo Walker stories I have read so far. It’s a story of one young boy’s life until 20 years later when he finally found his own true self and the power of love. Very enjoyable.