Cover Image: The Stars Don't Lie

The Stars Don't Lie

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The story is about Carver Livingston, a veterinarian in North Carolina. On his birthday, he learns that his parents are getting divorced. This prompts him to confront a shameful event from 20 years ago that has kept him from returning to his hometown in Vermont. The book explores themes of self-forgiveness, self-acceptance, and realizing one's worth. With warm and relatable characters, it's a touching story that resonates with the heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read The Stars Don't Lie.

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The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

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The Stars Don’t Lie
Boo Walker
2023
4.5 Stars


Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Press for my copy of The Stars Don’t Lie by Boo Walker. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

Trigger Warning: Suicide. Main character attempted suicide.

In summary: A second chance romance in a small town.

This is my first book by Boo Walker.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Carver Livingstone lives in self exile from Teterbury his home town. He couldn’t stay after a messy break up with his first true love, his high school sweetheart Shannon. When Carver’s mother asks him to come home to support her while his father is about to drive around the US in his Shasta caravan. Carver leaves his thriving business a couple of states over to return home. At first Carver is adamant he is going to be the talk of the town being back home and refuses to talk to anyone, hiding out so he doesn’t have to run in to people he knows. From there it is revealed that Carver had attempted suicide as a teenager due to the breakdown of his relationship from his first love. Carver is convinced he is still in love with Shannon despite twenty years passing and his return.
Threaded through the story is another main character Mrs.Cartwright (Eloise) a high school teacher who took Carver under her wing alongside her husband Tom while dealing with life after his attempted suicide. There is no doubt the respect Carver has for his high school teacher and takes it upon himself to do acts of kindness for her to show his appreciation.
There is a romance arc between Carver and Ava which I felt was well written. I liked the way the author gave Carver a sense of humility rather being the alpha hero and lay his feelings on the line the way he does.
Overall, I loved how the book was written, and I felt satisfied with the ending.

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The Stars Don't Lie was a different kind of read for me. I feel like there is so much wisdom in the characters and love having a high school teacher as one of the important characters. Carver was not a favorite character, but his personality does so much for the book. I will continue to read books by Walker.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Boo Walker for the opportunity to read this ARC. This review is my opinion.

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This book really spoke to my mind and soul with some important reminders. Always look to the stars. A inspiring and page turning read.

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This book spoke to my soul and reminded me of the important things in life. With pitch perfect pace and a well delineated cast of characters, it is a book to savor.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Thank you Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in return of my honest review.

This was my first time reading a book my Boo Walker.

Based around a male veterinarian who, struggling to make sense of his past, returns home.

The reading was often slow for me however I really enjoyed the character development and this made up for the slower pace.
Recommended for those who enjoy a slower, well developed book to enjoy.

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"Wasn't that how life was, figuring it out in the clumsiest of ways?"

It's a book about second chances, family, love, and wisdom that centers around Carter Livingston, who convinced himself that he's overcome what he considered as mistake from the past by being a successful veterinarian away from his hometown. But a phone call about reunion and his parents divorcing forced himself to go back to his town, revisit his old teacher who seems to changed so much, and try to reconcile his parents. Will he able to reconciled himself with his past and fix all what went wrong while he was away?

I love this book a lot! It has so much love, wisdom, and reflection that seems personal stories yet hold universal messages for everyone in every stages of their lives.

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Dr. Carver Livingston is a wealthy, successful 38yr old veterinary doctor struggling to get over an old flame. Although the premise was quite promising, I honestly struggled to get through this book and connect with the good Dr. The plot didn’t work for me in terms of the MC’s development. I struggled to understand why he was hung up on the past and I guess I was expecting a bigger reveal about his past mistakes in order to understand his present turmoil.

I did however enjoy Dr. Carver’s visit home and the relationship that he had with his high school teacher, Mrs. Cartwright, and how he helped her. She is the kind of teacher that I believe everyone deserves to have and her character warmed my heart. I wasn’t a fan of the romance bit of this story and this really did dampen my overall experience with this read. I hope to enjoy the next book by the author as I have heard nothing but good things.

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Despite being an unusual pick for me, The Stars Don't Lie had me hooked in immediately - and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read this.
Walker is an excellent writer, who's beautiful story was captivating and engaging. The pacing is well done, and didn't feel dragging at any point.
While I wasn't the biggest fan of our main character, I absolutely loved the range of characters in general and felt they all brought something to the story.

I recommend it.

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This whole book felt like a cliché…which is kind of funny when you juxtapose it with Mrs. Cartwright’s disdain of clichés. But this book was certainly not funny. Or even entertaining. It read like a bad Hallmark movie:

Rich, white veterinarian, who never got over his high school girlfriend, still thinks the world revolves around him 20 years later. After an unexpected trip home, a rude awakening instantaneously provides him with all the answers he’s been looking for, and he becomes the town hero. Oh, and he gets the girl.

Just ew.

I feel like I’m not normally this critical of a story. Maybe a character will rub me the wrong way, or the author’s writing style won’t suit me. But everything about this book felt juvenile and underdeveloped. The 38-year-old MMC constantly acted like an 18-year-old. The bravado and self-centeredness got old really fast. And then WHAM! In one short chapter, he had a revelation that turns everything around in his favor. I mean, I love a happy ending, but this was just not satisfying.

A lot of the relationships didn’t make sense, and I had a hard time with the emotions in this book. It was like everyone was stuck in adolescence the whole time.

I won’t be a broken record. This one just isn’t worth the read. It wasn’t the worst. I think Boo Walker writes a well-paced story. This one just fell pretty flat.

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For the past twenty years, Carver Livingston has been racing through life, distracting himself, and while he’s done extremely well for himself, he hasn’t really been living. Afraid to face his painful memories of a hurtful past, Carter has not been back to his home town in that twenty years, and has been running ever since. All of that is about to change when the two women who have given him the most in his life desperately need his help. Completely insecure about seeing anyone from his past, Carter plans a secretive quick trip into town, but soon realizes a quick trip just isn’t going to work. Meeting up again with a lost love that broke more than his heart has Carter running in circles. Is it finally his turn? As his twenty year class reunion nears, will Carter finally be able to come to grips with his own past, while helping two very special women in their own darkest days? This was a heartwarming story of love, loss, forgiveness, and overcoming. Filled with a cast of delightful characters this book will surely warm the cockles of your heart. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

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I was honestly expecting a lot more from this book. It was underwhelming. The positive aspects include the many complex and strong women in this book. They were all different, which I liked immensely. I didn't like a lot of aspects, though. The writing felt a bit flat. There was too much telling and not enough showing. I don't know if that was meant as a reflection on the character and not the author. I don't think that's how male main characters usually think. Trigger warnings should be included. I also felt that the main character understood self-love too quickly. As someone who has been going through the process of working through the issues, I know it takes so much more effort and time. It takes a lot of trial and error. It rang a bit unrealistic to me. I couldn't connect to it. The book wasn't atmospheric, which is a key component to my enjoyment. There weren't many reveals or twists, which was also disconcerting. It just wasn't for me.

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A first by this author for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

A well written story that kept me turning the pages. It got a little bit slow in parts but not enough to make it less interesting. It's a going back home again book. This time it's a guy though. Usually I read this type and it's a woman going back.

The setting is nice and the flow very good. It descriptions are gorgeous and make you feel as if you are there.

Things that happen in your past may effect someone's future. In this one Carver Livingston, a Veterinarian is called home to save his parents marriage. What could possibly go wrong. Or maybe right. Going back home has many ups and downs.

This is a four star book for me. Well done Boo Walker.

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This book didn't work for me. The plot points kept expanding and the main character was lackluster at best. I wanted to love this book as I was a fan of the author's previous books, but this one was difficult to finish.

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First of all let me just say how much I loved reading The Stars Don’t Lie and actually all of Boo Walker’s books! This story centers around Carver Livingston, a veterinarian who owns his own practice in North Carolina. Originally from Vermont, he receives a call from his parents on his birthday when he learns that they are planning to divorce. Because of a horrible thing he did 20 years ago that has caused him shame and guilt, he has never returned home to Vermont but feels this is the time he just might have to. It’s a story of finding forgiveness in yourself, learning to appreciate who you are, and realizing that you are enough just the way you are. It’s a book that held my interest with warm and caring characters and it really pulled at my heartstrings. I suggest having tissues close by as you read. The side story about Carver’s attachment to his teacher, who was a very wise woman, was an added delight to the storyline. It was nice giving and showing appreciation for all the care and work that teachers put in for their students. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc to read and review. I have come to know that when I see a book by Boo Walker, it’s one that I’ll want to read as they are always enjoyable and delightful stories. It’s a 5 star read and one I will highly recommend to others!

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I have enjoyed several of the books the author, Boo Walker, has written. This was another good addition to his growing list of wonderful books. The characters were well developed and I felt like I could picture them each vividly. I have to say that one of my favorite characters was Carver’s former teacher, Mrs. Cartwright. After having a teacher who made such a difference in my life and who I spent a lot of time with for years after high school graduation, I could identify with this delightful lady. A story of forgiveness and redemption, you will travel through the past and present days of Carver. There are a myriad of emotions buried in the pages that you must trudge through … but it is worth the journey. I felt like my heart was wrenched out of my chest several times as I traveled through the story. As you realize that no one is perfect and we all have flaws, it is interesting to see which ones you are shocked to discover. I cannot encourage you strongly enough to find yourself lost in the pages and realize that we are all part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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I did not know what to expect. I was intrigued by the title at first glance.

On the earlier chapters, I was somehow reminded of Coehlo’s books. As I continued reading it, I forgot Coehlo and asked myself: what’s the point in all these? Unknowingly, I may have gone into an introspection, myself - just like the MC in this book.

Each chapter is relatively long and I find it slowing me down. I came to a point when I thought to myself whether the narratives will be relevant to the whole plot or not.

Mid-way through, I got so disappointed with the characters’ decisions. I wanted to understand but got frustrated because I cannot fathom where they are coming from.

It’s masterful that when I had all this rage built-up already, the plot unfolds and answers all the questions I had in mind - providing clarity and perspective on how they came to be. When my built-up rage gradually loosened up, there went my tears - on standby.

Carver’s homecoming story intertwining with his teacher’s life beyond profession had been purposeful, or as they say, may have been led by fate. It is natural for teachers to care for their students way beyond when they are inside the classroom, but who will care for them if their immediate family had already gone?

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It made me feel a range of emotions in the short time I spent reading it. I went on from disappointment, anger, confusion, sadness, awe, and hope - and a lot more in between (not arranged in a specific order). In the end, it has been heartwarming, reassuring and unexpectedly, comforting.

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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 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.


This book was sheer perfection. Will recommend to others.

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The Stars Don't Lie, by Boo Walker, was difficult to rate, and I changed my rating several times. On one hand, I loved the story of forgiveness, love, and second chances. Walker is particularly insightful when handling issues of age and loss. There is much wisdom in this book that can help all of us. On the other hand, the protagonist, an extremely successful veterinarian, was emotionally stalled by an adolescent incident nor did he seem to have grappled with it at all for two decades. His reactions were often so childish that I was more annoyed than sympathetic. My other little gripe about this novel was overuse of the word "smirk." People didn't smile or grin...they smirked, which is a slightly mean way of showing amusement. I blame the editing more than the author. Nonetheless, this is a quick, absorbing read that I do recommend. 3.5 stars that I am rounding up to 4.Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

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