This book contains a lot, but it’s just the right amount of “a lot”. The characters have real struggles, some very painful. Carver has been bogged down by his past and has been running from it since he left his home town after high school. Twenty years later he is pulled back to help his parents through a crisis and is forced to face the past and in the process help Mrs. Cartwright, his old teacher who helped him pull himself back up during a dark time in his life. The characters were delightful and real and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

As much as I wanted to, I did not love this book. The story line had promise, but the main character, Carver Livingston, lacked substance and depth... He really made me want to punch him. We meet him as a very wealthy 38yo veterinarian who's established his own practice and has even invented some innovative bone plate thing for dogs, yet emotionally, he's completely stuck in the past... stuck in one day 20 years ago, to be exact. While the event of that day would be major for anyone, it was so frustrating to me that Carver is still ENTIRELY defined by a choice he made for himself that day despite all he has gone on to accomplish. I get that he hasn't truly healed and it still affects him... aren't we all haunted by the poor choices of our past selves? The thing is, he is so self-centered that he thinks everyone (his parents, his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, his entire high school class) is still stuck in his past as well, like their lives for the past 20 years have revolved around him. C'mon, he's got to be smarter than that! This egotism becomes the driving force for the rest of the book, and we're constantly bludgeoned with the "woe is me" mentality of Carver Livingston. Geez, even his name was trying too hard.
Rounding up my 2.5-star rating to 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A bit of a slow or maybe sad start to the book that left me uncertain if I’d like it, but honestly I’m so glad I continued! The backstory helps the rest of the story shine and have so much more depth. A story of human weakness, resiliency, and most importantly- connection.

I loved the pace and the writing style of this novel and I needed tissues at the end!

I loved the characters and the story line and I loved the occasional swear word too.

This is a great novel with a deeper message and I would recommend this one to all my book friends.

I had a hard time getting into this book. Carver, the main character, is still hung up on the main thing that happened in his life when he was 18 and thinks everyone in his small town he grew up in will be too, even though it's been 20 years. As he finds out, everyone but him has moved on, living their lives, barely thinking of him. I finished the book and enjoyed the ending but the hubris of the main character was hard to swallow at the beginning.

3.5 Stars.
I'm very conflicted about this book. The style of writing had me hooked from the beginning, but the story really dragged for the most part. The main character, Carver, was so stuck in the past that it really irritated me. How could he not have moved on from the girl that left him 20 years ago? They hadn't even been together for very long and it was high school! He had let that rule his whole life for 20 years. His deep dark secret wasn't as big as I expected with all the build-up in the book. Yes, the dark thing he did in his past affected everyone, but I was looking for a much bigger reason behind what he had done. His seeming to think the whole world revolved around him was irritating.

I love the paragraph in the book: "I was nothing...and yet I was everything." Yest, Carver did wise up in the end and became someone I could like.

The ending of the book made it worth reading, but I'll admit I almost gave up on it at certain points. Like everyone else says, his old teacher was the best character in the book. She had helped him so much in the past and now it's his turn to be there for her. He did a great job of that and their interactions were the highlight of the book.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

A well written story that had a great ending. Keep writing and we will keep reading. I hope you have ideas for your next nove.

The Stars Don't Lie is the first book I've read by Boo Walker and I absolutely loved it! I loved Boo's writing style - I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down!
This story follows Dr Carver Livingston as he returns to his home town after an absence of 20 years. I loved the way the author really got into Carver's head and delved into Carver's thought processes as he was forced to face his past. The relationship Carver has with his ex-teacher is so heartwarming, and I loved the role reversal here.
This is a story of second chances, family, forgiveness, and finding your tribe. Parts of the story really tug at your heartstrings and make you stop and take stock of what's important - the messages are so relatable and relevant.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced digital copy to review.

Life

This core of book is the story of the Livingston family, touched by near tragedy 20 years ago. Like the proverbial butterfly wings, the ramifications of that day are responsible for anger, resentment and confusion.

After a teenage breakup, Carver does the unthinkable and attempts to end his life. While he survives and outwardly appears to have gotten beyond the pain, in reality it has driven him forward at the same time as it has repelled him from his home town of Teterbury, Vermont. His return to help his parents through a marital issue forces him to face the past. Will it be enough?

I felt this book was well written, kept my attention and vested me in the characters lives’. TW: suicide.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I really loved this book. I had read done other pre-release reviews and was afraid I wouldn’t like the main character. That never happened. I liked him and understood how he felt. Loved his parents’ part of the story line. It reminded me a bit of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s writing style and that is a compliment, as she is my favorite author. I look forward to reading another book by Boo Walker. Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this book as a pre-release copy for an honest review.

THE STARS DON'T LIE is a new novel by Boo Walker, a prolific writer whose books are generally well-received and have beautiful covers. Unfortunately, I found the main character of this book, Carver Livingston, to be extremely egotistical, self-centered, and generally annoying. He is almost 40 years old and an accomplished veterinarian, but he still can't get over the girl, Shannon, who dumped him in high school. Really?! He returns home in time for a twentieth reunion and has to deal with his parents' pending divorce, plus escalating depression-like symptoms from a favorite teacher. It's a feel-good book so readers will not be at all surprised that all turns out in the end, including a new romance. Walker is compared to Nicholas Sparks, but the writing here was not as evocative or emotional; instead, the repeated references to Carter's concerns quickly became dreary and tiresome. So many books ... so little time ... unless you only read romances or love a small town Vermont setting, I would suggest looking for something else.

I found myself having a difficult time connecting with Carver, who has spent the past 20 years of his life pining over a short-lived high school relationship that he let almost end his life altogether. I found him a bit tiresome and desperate, going from one fizzled out relationship directly to fawning over another woman. I gave the book a fair chance, but it just wasn’t for me, in the end. All that to say, it was still great writing and I do believe that others will find it thoroughly enjoyable.

Going home is hard for many of us, but when you're a man who's left home twenty years ago and never gone back, it's fraught with complications, difficult memories, and challenging conversations. In THE STARS DON'T LIE, Boo Walker has shared an engaging story about just such a man in Carver Livingston who returns to the chaos of divorcing parents, a profoundly sad teacher needing support, and the possibility of a renewed relationship with the one who got away. While some of the inner dialogue about not wanting to go home and the powerful regrets tended to drag down the story, ultimately, I found it an uplifting and entertaining, heart grabbing story. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

The story follows the vet Dr. Carver Livingston who left his hometown shortly after he graduated highschool and hasn't been back since. Now with his mom calling him for help, Carver is going back and is reconnecting with his past.
This story touches themes of mental health, infidelity, hope and redemption. The premise of the book was very good but the characters and story did not grab me as much as A Spanish Sunrise did. I liked the character of Carver and I could empathise with him and his hopes and fears. I very much enjoyed his growth over the 340 pages.
I especially enjoyed the Character of Mrs. Cartwright and I loved to see the impact a great teacher can have on a child or teenager. I think it is something many people can relate to. I personally did not like to go to school but I still think about some teachers and the impact they had on my life. She was the real main character in this story.
The book had some beautiful moments but some chapters just dragged on a bit too much for me. It was a good book but it did not work for me completely. I think it is a lovely read for everyone who likes a redemption arc or a coming-of-age story.

Thank you to Boo Walker, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

All Too Real. This book is all about a guy who hasn't been back to his hometown in 20 yrs due to some massive trauma while he was in school who finally goes back home... and has his world and entire life and history rocked by shocking revelations about what *actually* happened back then. As someone who read this book, then went back to visit my parents near my hometown (they now live in the next County up, rather than the house I spent grades 7+ and college in), and had his dad just casually mention a previously forgotten if not outright unknown fact about his own high school history... yeah, this book is truly all too real. Add in the fact that I have my own version of "Mrs. Cartright", a teacher who stepped in and stepped up at exactly the right moment in my life - in my case, Tommy Harris of Kingston, GA, who absolutely always deserves every accolade I can possibly give him... and yeah, like I said in the title... this book is all *too* real. And yet, that is exactly what made it so relevant and cathartic, even years after I like to think I've "fully" dealt with all my own real-world crap from that era. (Though in defining both who Carter, in the book, and myself, in my "real" life, became... perhaps one never *truly* moves on from that era and that pain... which is actually something Walker actively looks into even into the closing words of the text here.)

For anyone who has ever had one of those teachers worthy of a "Mr. Holland's Opus Finale", you're gonna want to read this book. If you haven't seen that movie, seriously, go back and watch it. Phenomenal, and the ending is particularly moving... and clearly an inspiration for the finale of this particular tale.

Overall truly a particularly well written and well told story, one that some will clearly relate to more than others - but which has enough universal truth to be truly transcendent, no matter the particulars of your own life. Very much recommended.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Successful veterinarian Carver Livingston left his home town in Vermont 20 years ago and never returned. He’s felt like the town has been judging him ever since a traumatic time in high school. But when his mom begs him to come home since his father and her are getting divorced, he returns. Confronted by his demons, he ends up seizing back his own life.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Boo Walker’s story brings a high school reunion angst into focus and while Carver has been successful professionally, his emotional life and home is barren. Not returning home is a symptom of the problem. I appreciated how this successful man was in fact filled with self doubt, insecurities but when forced to face the very people he’s been hiding from, really rises to the occasion. Forgiveness allows him the opportunity to fill his life with love.

This book is just BURSTING with potential!

Dr. Carver Livingstone has made a huge success of his work life, but is unable to connect with other people, emotionally, due to something that happened when he was at school, 20 years ago and which has prevented him ever returning to his home town.

I was expecting something huge, but it was just a short teenage romance! When Carver's parents announce they are divorcing, he returns home to support his mother, hoping to stay under the radar and be able to avoid facing anyone from his past. It transpired that he blames himself for his parent's break up and has not dealt with the broken heart that drove him to leave 20 years ago.

The saving grace for this story was Mrs Cartwright, Carver's old school teacher. She was a wonderful character and I would like to think we all had a teacher like her, whose influence stays with us throughout our lives.

I feel that more character development is needed with several of the characters and perhaps reduce the number of plot lines and develop the others fully to ensure a more fully engaging read.

3 star. Thanks to Netgalley, Boo Walker and Lake Union for an ARC in return for my honest review.

This is Carver Livingston's story. He banished himself from his hometown in Vermont in self-acclaimed shame that he felt he brought on himself and his family. He felt he was damaged goods. He left after high school, and vowed never, ever to return. Twenty years later he received a phone call from his mother, pleading with him to come home.

The book is about Carver's journey, not just the trip back to Vermont. But, the journey of acceptance, forgiveness and self-redemption. He is learning that his 40-year-old self is not who he was when he left Vermont 20 years earlier. Perception and reality evolve as he matures. The author really takes us into his mind and thoughts. The reader gets to know how he feels about himself, his insecurities, his accomplishments. It is very interesting.

Throughout Carver's journey of healing and rediscovering himself, he also deals with the problems of his parent's marriage.

I especially enjoyed Carver's relationship with a former teacher, Mrs Cartwright. She was someone who supported him during his youth and that support continued as if there had not been a 20-year break. There is a bit of role reversal also.

My favourite quote from the book: It was okay that I wasn't perfect, because I was so far from perfect. Just like everyone else.

There's a saying: You can't go home again. (apologies to Mrs. Cartwright)
But, sometimes you can!

The ending might have been a bit too tidy but it made me happy. And, at one point, there might have been a few tears.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I have read several of Walker’s books and have enjoyed them. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters in this book. They were all obsessed with past pains and not going on with life. That was obviously the point of the book, as it developed in the end. I was still irritated with the main character who focused on his teenaged failure and didn’t engage in life for twenty years.
The book is written in honor of a teacher who mentored the author. Mrs. Cartwright is a symbol of all the great teachers who have poured their lives into the minds and hearts of their students. That theme was well received as teachers are under attack in our society.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Boo Walker charmed me immediately with the rugged, loner vet in Asheville, NC who struggled so hard not to ever go back to his native Vermont. But I confess that I was a tiny bit frustrated that all through the early chapters I was teased with hints that he’d done something so terrible he couldn’t show his face in his hometown, but I was left wondering.

I’m not going to tell you now what it is, because that would be a spoiler. But I will say I think this brilliant, handsome vet has maybe overreacted a tad. In his favor, he seems to genuinely care about his parents and about people, a teacher, a friend, and others, he left and didn’t see or talk with for twenty years. I can’t help wonder if it really would be that simple to slip back in and pick up the strings after not wanting to do so for such a long time.

After his dad takes off in a classic travel trailer, Carver decides to stay in town a little longer. He has (miraculously) reconnected with his former girlfriend, and his favorite teacher has been in an accident. So he is wanted and needed. I think the book gets better as Carver begins to be more reflective and less reactive.

In fact, that’s exactly where the book gets really interesting. It’s when he and his teacher Mrs. Cartwright have it out. By that time, I really care about both of them. And so I really want to,know what’s going to happen next. That’s the sign of a good book.

Boo Walker is a great argument for giving up the moniker “women’s fiction”. I haven’t read his other books, but The Stars Don’t Lie is family fiction, it’s human fiction. There’s a revelation, of course. There’s an epiphany. And you’ll enjoy rooting for Carver Livingston to get sorted out, and become the brilliant, smart vet who learned to care and forgive. Is this a romance? Yes, of course it is. But it’s insightful, and I liked it.