On a Night of a Thousand Stars by Andrea Yaryura Clark is an engaging and well-written historical fiction novel that tells the story of a family caught up in Argentina's Dirty War. The book follows two timelines: one in the 1970s, as Santiago and his friends become involved in political activism and face the consequences of their actions, and the other in the late 1990s, as Santiago's daughter Paloma tries to piece together her father's past and understand her family's role in the events of that time.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, I found the dual timeline structure to be very effective. It allowed me to see both the personal and political sides of the Dirty War, and it made me care about the characters even more.

Second, I thought Clark did a great job of explaining the complex history of Argentina's Dirty War in a way that was easy to understand. She didn't just give us a bunch of dates and facts; she also told us about the people who were affected by the war, and she made us feel their pain.

Finally, I appreciated the ending of the book. It was bittersweet, but it also gave me hope for the future. I think it's important to remember that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

Overall, I would highly recommend On a Night of a Thousand Stars to anyone who is interested in learning more about Argentina's Dirty War or who just enjoys a good historical fiction novel.

3.5
Showcasing Argentina history during the "dirty war" in 1976 when the military takes over the country we follow Santiago and his endeavors of fighting for what he believes in.

Fast forward to 1998 and we see Santiago's daughter revisiting the past and a photograph that she finds.

These two worlds collide as answers come to the surface.

I am a huge lover of historical fiction where I can learn something new! Overall...it was a decent book, but I found myself wishing for more information about the war, more simple details explaining the why and I would've loved to have felt concern for the characters and the dangerous situations they were in, but I never felt that. The book fell a little flat for me. I really had high hopes and expectations for this book, but it didn't fall near what I thought it would be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-copy of this book.

i loved this book! it was a page turner that I finished in one day. i love the historical fiction aspect of this book and it also gave me a lot to think about. very atmospheric i felt like i was there and it had great character development. thank you for a chance to read and review this copy it was a great read and I highly recommend for fans of historical fiction.

It’s 1998 and Paloma’s father, Santiago, announces that he has been named the next UN ambassador from Argentina. At a celebration party in their home in New York, a guest has a cryptic conversation with Paloma that sparks her interest in her father’s past. When he won’t answer her questions, Paloma decides to use their trip back to Buenos Aires for her father’s official appointment ceremony to dig into it on her own. She meets a local university student named Franco, who is a member of an activist group called H.I.J.O.S., whose members are all children of the desaparecidos of the 1970s dictatorship. With Franco’s help and connections, Paloma starts to unravel her family’s history, and as she discovers that there is a *lot* more to it than she’d ever known (and as readers, we watch that story unfold in 1976, in parallel with Paloma’s sleuthing), things in the “present day” take a turn for the dangerous.

This was a fairly typical set-up, as far as the parallel past and present unfolding of stories that is fairly common with historical fiction these days. As we get the current day story of Paloma learning more about her father and his past in Argentina, we are able to get glimpses at what that actually looked like at the time, in addition to Paloma’s wonderings about it. It’s a nice way to fully flesh out the stories and characters without having to rely too heavily on assumption or interpretation, if also a bit predictable as far as “twists” and “discoveries” go. I mean, you know the “plucky present-day MC” is going to “uncover truths from the past that change everything she thinks she knows.” However, it was really well paced. I enjoyed the short chapters back and forth; it made it easy to fly through the story. And the “aha” moments were timed well and with solid frequency.

I do wish the writing itself was a slightly higher quality – and really that was my biggest gripe with the novel. I actually didn’t mind the stereotypical plot devices, as once I realized that’s what it was setting up to be, I settled into that. But the writing felt a bit jumpy and kind of juvenile as far as style and language choice/sentence structure. And the dialogue was uneven – sometimes it was really good and other times it felt stilted and forced. Like the right emotions there were right, but the words being used were just…unrealistic…and made the relationship development feel less genuine. There was just so much, topically and thematically, about this book that was so important and I hate that it got lost at times, for me, in the “meh” writing.

Now, let me take the rest of this review to talk about those topics and themes that were so important. Because Clark has shone a literary fiction spotlight on a period of history that is recent enough to not be in history classes, and so purposefully downplayed to make an attempt to forget it, that it needs this kind of light to bring it to/keep it on humanity’s radar. I know a bit about the “Dirty War” in Argentina (and the general slew of similar dictatorship-disappearances in South America during this same time period), but mostly from my own studies and a few other novels (a phenomenal one, about 1977 Uruguay, is Cantoras – not just amazing on this time period/topic, but also just overall one of my favorite books – gorgeously written, heartbreaking and hopeful).

But so far, everything I’ve read has been from the perspective of those that lived through it. I was so intrigued by this novel that is telling the story, at least in part, from the narrative perspective of the children of the desaparecidos. Those youth suffered trauma in so many different ways and, in many cases, still have no closure about what happened to their parents/family members, but with the general lack of effort on the part of…the world, really…to persecute the supporters of the dictatorships, the people that tortured and killed their families, and the overall trend towards trying to bury memories of these dark parts of a country’s history, they are forced/pretend to live their regular lives like everything is fine. And I cannot imagine that kind of heartbreak and strain. Especially now that those children are full-on adult ages, this felt like such a new and unique perspective and one that I appreciated getting insight into.

In addition, learning about the illegal adoption situations that happened for children born to people while they were detained, and thinking about how many of them will never even know their true origin stories (a similar concept was explored in The Tenth Muse to great emotional effect as well)…it’s a lot to sit with and process. And I love the focus Clark puts on wanting justice and knowledge and for the world to remember what they grew up unable to talk about. It’s intense and heartbreaking, but also strong and inspiring. With all that in mind, and in considering that the final chapters do talk, with detail, about the kidnapping and torture and childbirth trauma of a female character, I feel that it is important to give content warnings to potential readers.

I also want to mention that, while there could definitely have been a bit more nuance to the discussion, Clark does a passable job acknowledging how class/money/prestige/priorities/access can protect and insulate one against injustice, showing how people experience the same historical events in dramatically different ways, depending on their individual reality. She shows how, sometimes, even wealth and status is not enough to protect you, with a great message about trying to take a stand and do more while you have the chance to, honestly. There was also an interesting look at how sometimes secrets stay buried and memories are purposefully suppressed, even though perhaps the truth/honesty would be more beneficial than anything else, because people would rather forget than experience the pain of remembering. Decisions like that affect so many more people/relationships than just an individual, and it’s always important to remember that (before it’s too late – as we saw a bit of here).

This was a fascinating read about both the recent history of Argentina itself and the ways it impacts the people of Argentina (and beyond) in the present. The characters’ stories were intense and affecting, their development compelling. Though the emotional responses I had were watered down by writing itself, which was disappointing, I really appreciated the perspectives that were given voice throughout this novel, and was kept invested in the story with the plot-pacing and unfolding storylines.

I have read other books about the Los Desaparecidos and On a Night of a Thousand Stars was exceptional. I was immediately hooked. I enjoyed the different points of views and how all the stories were tied together. The different points of view, the lives of the characters and all the inter-connections was very well done. It was entertaining and thought provoking. I loved it. I couldn't put it down, read through tears streaming down my face, and had to keep reading until when I was done. It is a story that stays with you. Excellent debut. 4.5 stars

"One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present." -- Golda Meir

New York, 1998. Wealthy Argentinian diplomat, Santiago Larrea, is hosting a soiree with this wife and 21-year-one daughter, Paloma, to celebrate his appointment as Argentina’s ambassador to the United Nations. When a party guest makes an intriguing off-handed remark about her father’s university days, Paloma is determined to learn more about his life in the years leading up to the military dictatorship of 1976.

When the family travels to Buenos Aires for Santiago's UN ambassadorial appointment, Paloma is determined to learn more about his life in the years leading up to the military dictatorship of 1976. Through her sleuthing she becomes attached to student Franco Bonetti, an activist member of H.I.J.O.S. — a group whose members are the children of the Desaparecidos, the estimated 30,000 people who were forcibly disappeared, tortured, and murdered by the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance during the “Dirty War from 1974 to 1983”

The novel’s dual narrative shifts between Paloma’s 1998 quest to uncover her father’s past to Santiago’s life in the 1970s and the choices he made as a young playboy law student leading up to the coup. The history depicted in this novel is important, and the author clearly conducted extensive research to bring it to light. I knew little Argentinian history prior to reading On a Night of a Thousand Stars. Unfortunately, I was never emotionally invested in the characters or the storylines, although I will say the one set in the past was far more engaging. The dual narratives were confusing because of their multiple love matches. In the end, I just didn’t like the writing. This is Clark’s debut, and I’ll give her another try if she writes another book. 3.5 stars.

Published Date: March 2022
Genre: Historical fiction
Read-alikes: House on Endless Waters by Emunah Elon; The Memory Stones by Caroline Brothers; The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I was so excited to dive into 𝗢𝗡 𝗔 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 by Andrea Yaryura Clark with my book club! I didn't know much about the history of Argentina or the brutal Dirty War of the 1970s before reading this and I found the story riveting.

Told in dual timelines and POVs (one first person and the other third), Clark does a masterful job of showing how the terror the Argentinians experienced under the military dictatorship in the 1970s still affected people almost 30 years later. She deftly balances explaining the politics and history of the time with creating layered characters whose relationships you can't help but become invested in. The story kept me guessing throughout, and the ending packed a truly emotional punch. This was a great one not only to discuss but also to learn from.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the copy to review.

Well done dual time period modern historical fiction. In 1998, Paloma is the 21 year old daughter of Argentinian parents but raised in the US, when a chance meeting with someone from her dad’s past raises some questions for her about how much she knows about his life, just as the family is returning to visit Argentina. As she begins to investigate, her perspective alternates with the 1970s, told from the viewpoint of the younger version of her father and another woman.

I must admit I knew pretty much nothing about Argentinian history, including the brutal period in the 1970s in which many people were “disappeared” and tortured by the secret police. So it was very interesting to learn about that. This also was a good example of dual time period fiction done well, where both eras were equally compelling to read. Think Lucinda Riley or Beatriz Williams.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres so I'm always excited when I find a book with a topic that I know little about. I enjoyed the past/present timeline and didn't really have an overwhelming preference for one over the other. It does have some pretty tough topics but I thought it was all tastefully done by the author.

3.5/5

I enjoyed how this story switched back and forth between the past & present. I went in knowing nothing about Argentina’s Dirty War, and it was so sad to read about these events.

Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend to history buffs or those looking to travel to Argentina, as I think it would be so powerful to know this heartbreaking story while heading there and exploring the beautiful land.

This book was an educational and interesting look at the Argentinian Dirty War. Set in dual timelines we have Paloma in 1998. Paloma is the college aged daughter of newly UN appointed ambassador to Argentina, Santiago Larrea. When they land in Argentina a woman recognizes Santiago and tries to bring up the past. She is not engaged with and everyone but Paloma forgets the interaction. Paloma, however, takes this one morsel and begins a quest for the story. She meets up activist Franco they begin a quest for the truth.

In the 70s we see Santiago in his younger years. He is a well-behaved, privileged individual who tries to stay as neutral as he can given the unrest his nation is facing. His best friends are less neutral-minded than himself and so he ends up on the fringes of involvement. When his first love becomes entangled in the danger he tries to fight to keep her safe.

The story kept me reading and I was intrigued by learning the history of Argentina but the book as a whole is not a stand-out for me. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction who like to read about different places and times and learn more of different countries backgrounds.

I requested On a Night of a Thousand Stars as background reading for a First Impressions Program we ran for Tiffany Porcelli. Our member-reviewers rated it an average 4.2 stars.

I have always been interested in the history of Argentina so naturally a story which addressed the desaparecidos would catch my attention. Couple that with a beautiful cover and a back and forth time narrative and I'm in! Clark has deftly woven the Paloma's curiosity about her father with what she finds out about his role in Argentina's dark history. Clearly well researched, Clark has created an excellent debut novel and I look forward to more by her in the future.

Loved this story! Thank you for thr ARC! Wonderful story of the strength of family and how it’s handled. Love it!!!

Wow. This book, that ending.

I didn’t know much about Argentina’s “Dirty War” or even about Argentina itself. The author describes the city of Buenos Aires like a love story. The food, the people, the smaller towns outside the city. It made me want to sit in a cafe drinking mate with old friends.

Despite the beautiful descriptions of the city, I had trouble getting into this book. The main characters didn’t come across as all that interesting. It was until halfway through the book that things started happening and I started to become invested in the story.

Overall and interesting and compelling story. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy to review.

I knew very little about this time period so historical inaccuracies will not jump out to me; hence I enjoyed this more than those with far more familiarity. The book is well written and I found though a bit dense, no less engaging. 3 stars.

NYC, 1998. Palomita’s family is from Argentina. She doesn’t know about her parents lives during the dictatorship. And at a recent event, a friend of her father’s mentions something that makes her join her parents, when asked to go to their ranch in Argentina for a couple weeks. There, she makes her investigative work to find out about a safe house her father built during the turbulent times of Argentina to help others in danger.

Argentina, 1973. Santiago Larrera is a law student, when Peron returns to Buenos Aires from his exile in Madrid, and when he also meets Valentina. They have an instant attraction. He is from an elite family and she is from a working-class family. At times, he shifts to doing some things he may not have done previously such as protests.

During the dictatorship, thousands of people were kidnapped, tortured, and assassinated by the Armed Forces. In the present timeline, there are those who have been marginalized, because of their past. They seek justice for the crimes committed to their families.

The first half of the story feels character-driven with mystery surrounding the father. The second half is plot-driven with Palomita trying to unravel the past. The story constantly switches between two timelines, therefore, there are still some things being revealed from the past. But in the second part, it is strongly driven by plot.

I prefer character-driven stories, thus, I was very engaged by the first part. I don’t like plot-driven stories, thus, I wasn’t as engaged in the second part. Overall, the story is interesting and the prose is enjoyable. It has a smooth transition between the timelines. The historical background of political and social unrest is well-presented. There is a good balance between history and storytelling. The historical aspect doesn’t overwhelm the fiction. I don’t like more than one love story being developed within one book, and here are a few of them.

Wow. This novel is so much more than I expected. I knew absolutely nothing about the Argentinian history covered in this story (which I'm ashamed to say as a lifelong history junkie) but I don't think I could've had a more intimate and heart wrenching introduction than this.

The dual POV perspective between past (mainly through Santiago and Valentina) and the present (with daughter Paloma) is so expertly done. The reader always sees the story from the most impactful viewpoint and it's seamless going between them. All three, and the other characters who come through the story, are so human and real and that makes the plot land that much harder. You may disagree with their choices, you may beg them to do something else, but you understand why they do what they do.

There are a lot of surprises in this story, even if you know of the military dictatorship of 1976 well, because it's just as much about the people who lived it as the events themselves. The ending is truly bittersweet in all ways. I finished it days before writing this review and it's stuck with me. I think it's just one of those stories, the kind that stay around for a while afterward.

I'd absolutely recommend this one to any reader of historical fiction. It's a topic not covered in many stories and the writing, the plot, the characters, it's all so well done that you'll lose yourself in it. It's not a story to miss!

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

Excellent story. Not only was this a story that captured your attention and your heart, but it was a review of the happenings of the time period in Argentina. Even though the chapters went back and forth from the 1976 to the 1990's, it was very easy to follow.

Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. I really wanted to read and like this book. I'm from Argentina, originally, and I was born and lived my first years during the '70s so I know the story pretty well. My family suffered the atrocities of those days in the flesh. The book and the characters are really flat and I found more than one historical inaccuracies (Evita's cause of death, for example). When you find an historical inaccuracy in a HF book, it is very hard to trust the rest and the author's documentation. Also, I found a lot of common places and cliches about Argentine people and Buenos Aires lifestyle.
I'm giving it three stars instead of two because I understand that we are talking about a debut novel and, as such, it is a well written piece. Again, I'm left wanting for more depth and accuracy.