This was an mpressive debut novel with a unique approach, and a beautiful exploration of the identities we hold in the hearts and minds of those we encounter. I am in awe of how Cedar Bowers was able to draw on so many different perspectives, using each to build onto the next one. It was a powerful way of protagonist character development without writing from the perspective of that very character. And, of course, being a Vancouverite, it was such a joy to come across many references to Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada, peppered throughout Astra's story. Thank you, Cedar, for putting your creativity out into the world, and to NetGalley and McClelland & Stewart for the ARC.

Loved this book! I thought the way the author told the story from different characters points of view, but through different points in time, was really cool. I'm from the lower mainland in BC so was able to picture a lot of the story as it was told in the neighbourhoods I'm familiar with. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a new read!

Okay this I don’t even remember requesting but I’m glad I did even if it took me so long to read.

What a great debut novel for the author, the characters had be sucked into their world and learning about Astra from different points were fascinating.

Astra is still one of the best books I read this year and it's now August. The writing and storytelling were utterly magnificent. The plot was unique to me. I highly recommend this to all my friends/clients that are avid readers. I can't wait to see what Cedar Bowers puts out next.

In essence, this book can be broken down to this: learn about Astras entire life through other characters eyes. Fabulously well done. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like it. Character driven story all the way. I couldn’t put it down. The rag tag band of characters that gave us our view of Astras life were so diverse, it made for an outstandingly wild ride.

I found the concept of this book to be so unique and interesting that I was immediately drawn to pick it up. The writing felt like it was that of a well established author and not a debut. Will most definitely look forward to reading anything else this author writes.

Umm, this book was just okay for me. And I think the main reason was that I just didn't get attached to Astra, the one main character. I really did enjoy how the book was written, different people from different stages of Astra's life, telling their story about how they came to be part of Astra's life. But besides that, it just wasn't really for me. Dragged on and wasn't really vested in most of the characters. My fav was Dom (Freedom), from day one! And I do like how it wrapped up for sure, I'm also thinking this would be a good movie, as I think the supporting cast could really add some interest to the overall view of it. Anywho, if you enjoy multi-generational stories, then yes read this. :)

Wow, this book hit me more than I thought it would. Going into it, I was interested to see how everyone would link back to Astra and help her discover who she is. The way that this was done was brilliant! It was interesting to see Astra from everyone's personal perspective, with their own experiences and biases that were associated with their relationship. The author did an amazing job weaving the stories together while jumping in time with every new perspective and still having it be a cohesive story. This is definitely a story I'll be thinking about for a long time.

A debut novel that feels like the skilled writing of an author producing their 15th novel. Bowers has created a character study that relies completely on the perspectives of 10 other people to describe the central character, Astra. From her birth to her later life, people who are influential towards, and influenced by, Astra tell their stories, giving the reader a fully developed woman. If you've ever wondered how other people would describe you, and the effect you have had on them, I would strongly recommend this gem.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Astra is a very clear cut and precise debut novel from Cedar Bowers. Told through ten different perspectives, Astra tells the story of a character of the same name, through the eyes of people who know her. Astra isn't like you and I though, she grew up on an isolated commune, and through this novel the reader is given one of the most intriguing character studies in recent years.

From it's terse setting to it's introspective cover, Astra is a powerful debut novel from a writer who shows great promise. There is no doubt in my mind that Cedar Bowers is here to stay.

This novel is less a "novel" as we traditionally think of it and more a complex character study. Told from the perspective of multiple different characters, the reader compiles a picture of Astra. The voice in this novel is beautiful -- highly recommend for that alone -- and the ending was satisfying. I loved this book.

5 STARS

If you could see yourself as others saw you, would you be any closer to the truth of who you really are? In the tradition of Olive Kitteridge and Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, Astra is a beguiling debut novel that reveals the different faces of one enigmatic woman, as seen through the eyes of ten people she encounters over the course of six decades.

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ASTRA is a very interesting novel, as it's namesake is never the narrator. Reading like biographical memoir, we learn about Astra through the eyes of and thoughts of those that she interacts with over her lifetime. Full of unreliable narrators, I found myself enjoying the act of piecing together the puzzle to figure out who the "real" Astra was.

Realistic, bittersweet and very well written.

This book was stunning. I could not put it down!! The narrative of telling someone's story through the eyes of various people over the course of their life was IMMACULATE.
Cedar's ability to completely differentiate each POV and maintain the immersive & powerful nature of each was incredible. The dichotomy of how men and women view a woman & a woman's place in the world was jaw-dropping and I cried and AMPLE amount. This already has a permanent spot on my bookshelf - I highly highly recommend!!
IG Review link will be added once posted!

Cedar Bowers has immense skill; Astra is filled with such vivid prose, with such complex characters, living complicated lives. I enjoyed the pace of this book, the way each relationship slowly developed, letting the reader feel the impact Astra created. Thank you NetGalley for my copy. My comments and opinions are my own.

Brilliantly written debut with 10 different perspectives of 1 persons life. Character development and wiring were strong, the picture the author gives off relationship dynamics was absolutely engrossing

This was an astounding character-driven novel. I’ve never read anything quit like it, and initially wasn’t sure how much I liked the content and the format, but I couldn’t put it down. This is a very powerful book.
Astra is born on a commune, motherless and basically fatherless, essentially raising herself. The book is told from the perspective of 10 different people who are involved in Astras life at some form and at some time, showing Astras incredible growth and resiliency after her difficult upbringing.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVED Greenwood which is by Cedars husband, and I was actually a little nervous to pick this up knowing how MUCH I loved his book. Let me tell you... these two are a fantastic author couple! Astra was such a unique story about a girl who grows up on a compound and leaves to find herself. I really enjoyed the way the whole story is told in the views of everyone who knows Astra and wants to fix her or save her. She comes off as this broken girl who grows into a fragile woman, yet she is fierce and strong and empowering. All of the stars!

Thank you to Netgalley, McClelland and Stewart, Penguin Random House Canada, and Cedar Bowers for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an odd but enjoyable story! Following Astra through her life at many random points, this book will take you almost anywhere. The growth and development in her character can be hard to see at times, but then it jumps out and is this little unexpected surprise.

I actually quite enjoyed seeing the array of characters and situations in this story. We not only experience Astras point of view in this one, but other characters as well. There are certainly chapters of Astras life that we get intimate looks at, but the reader does not always get the story of the ending of these chapters. And honestly? It adds to the intrigue!

If you are looking for a quirky, interesting, not, in my opinion, a run of the mill book (that is also set in Canada!) give it a shot!

**Disclaimer: I received a free early access copy of Astra by Cedar Bowers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.

Astra by Cedar Bowers is an adult debut contemporary/literary fiction novel.  It tells the story of a woman named Astra but not through her perspective but from the perspective of the people around her who play a significant role in her life.  I rated it five stars on Goodreads.  It was published on June 1st, 2021.


Here's the summary from Goodreads:

If you could see yourself as others saw you, would you be any closer to the truth of who you really are? In the tradition of Olive Kitteridge and Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, Astra is a beguiling debut novel that reveals the different faces of one enigmatic woman, as seen through the eyes of ten people she encounters over the course of six decades.
Raised on a remote BC commune by a neglectful father, Astra Brine eventually leaves for Calgary, where she struggles to find her way in the world, her life becoming a study of the thin line between dependence and love, need and desire. As her path intersects with others--often only briefly, but always intensely--she will encounter people who, by turns, want to rescue, control, become, change, and escape her, revealing difficult yet shining truths about who they are and what they yearn for. There is the childhood playmate who comes to fear Astra's unpredictable ways; the stranger who rescues her from homelessness and then has to wrestle with his own demons; the mother who hires Astra as a nanny even as her own marriage goes off the rails; the man who takes a leap of faith and marries her.
Even as Astra herself remains the elusive yet compelling axis around which these narratives turn, her story reminds us of the profound impact that an individual can have on those around her, and the power struggles at play in all our relationships, no matter how intimate. A beautifully constructed and revelatory novel, Astra explores what we're willing to give and receive from others, and how well we ever really know the people we love the most.

The thing that drew me to this book was the premise of seeing this woman's story through the eyes of the other people in her life.  I don't think I've ever read anything like that before and I wanted to see how that would work.  As it turned out, it was quite beautifully done.  It definitely made me think about how everyone has a different perspective of you based on when they encountered you and on their own life experience.

Astra was an interesting character with an unconventional life.  However, you don't really get to know what goes through her head until the very end of the novel, so you're left to wonder what is motivating her as each event of the story takes place.  It's interesting to learn about the different characters whose perspective you get to see as well.  The author did a good job of making the characters come alive and feel real.  Astra isn't necessarily a particularly likeable character, but I couldn't help but find myself interested in her and what was going to happen next.

The writing was good, and I quite enjoyed it.  However, the real stand out is definitely Astra and how the story is structured.  It's very interesting.  I also really liked the fact that it was set in Canada and much of it took place in British Columbia, because I don't always get to read books set in my country/province.  It was fun to read about locations that were familiar to me.

I can see how this book won't be for everyone, however, if you're at all intrigued by the premise I definitely think that you should pick it up and give it a read.  I found it quite compelling and an interesting study of character.

What a wonderful debut novel by Cedar Bowers.

Astra Brine was born and raised on a remote commune in BC with a father who is more concerned with his mission than his daughter. The book follows Astra over decades of her life told through the eyes of ten people she encounters- some are told by people who have quick interactions with her and some with lifelong relationships like her son. The format makes for such an interesting read as we see the impact Astra has on people she navigates her own struggles. It makes you wonder the impact you may have had on people without knowing it.

I loved how this narrative style shows us a full picture of Astra- the good, the bad and the ugly. She's hurt but also manipulative. She loves and she takes love away. The way the stories are interwoven was expertly crafted and Bowers' skill as a writer comes across in the narrative and attention to detail. I also loved that she showcases Canada in this book.

I highly recommend Astra to readers who love literary fiction and a beautifully told story. I can't wait to see what Cedar Bowers does next.

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.