This book reminded me more of a character study than a great story. It was interesting, but not riveting. Well written, but a bit mundane. The plot doesn't have much of an arc, but still kept my attention until the end. And the end, itself, doesn't have a lot of closure. Basically we are following the main character, Jack Schmidt, through a few weeks of his life (with some memories sprinkled in,) until we aren't. The story just stops in a seemingly random place. It's hopeful, but all of the things that could happen are more promising than what I just read. And the "guide book" additions felt like place holders and don't add much. Overall, a read that was simply meh.

This was my first book by Ethan Joella. He writes characters beautifully. The setting is everything you could ask for. I wanted to love this book, but for me it was good not great. I liked the short chapters, but it took me a while to get invested. The ending did make me like the book more. Overall 3.5 stars.

I love Ethan Joella’s books. They are so full of heartbreak and hope and a satisfying ending. While I do feel this one was a bit slower than his others, I still enjoyed it. Ethan has a way with character development and you really feel for the characters throughout the story.

The Same Bright Stars is set in Rehobeth Beach - a place I frequented with my family while growing up! Jack Schmidt's family has been running a restaurant in the beach resort town for three generations. Jack takes a lot of pride in his restaurant, staff, and the tradition, but it is wearing him down. With no love relationship, few days off, and endless problems trying to keep a business afloat he is beginning to wonder about his own future happiness. When DelDine, a big corporation, offers him a buyout, Jack is weighing the pros and cons of a new life.
I was a bit irritated with Jack's inability to make a move to secure his own happiness in the book, and I was not invested in his story until the later part of the book. Jack does come to a realization, and actually finds some happiness in his life, but not before experiencing some trauma and the reappearance of his old girlfriend. No spoilers, but the ending did redeem the book for me. Thank you to Netgalley for an advance reader copy. Probably a 3.5 for me - if you like an emotional redemptive story try this one.

I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of this novel via NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised to find it even more captivating than expected.

The story centers around Jack Schmidt, the owner of a successful restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Despite his financial success, Jack grapples with a sense of emptiness and a longing for deeper connections and family. The narrative delves into themes of family, life decisions, and the pursuit of true happiness, portraying Jack's journey of self-discovery and yearning for fulfillment.

Character-driven and emotionally rich, "The Same Bright Stars" introduces a cast of compelling characters who navigate life's complexities alongside Jack. Each character adds depth and resonance to the story, prompting reflection on the impact of individual choices on life's trajectory.

This novel stands out for its ability to evoke emotion, provoke introspection, and offer insights into the intricacies of human relationships and personal fulfillment. A beautifully written and life-affirming tale, I highly recommend "The Same Bright Stars" for readers seeking a poignant exploration of life's challenges and joys.

Gratitude to NetGalley, Ashley Gilliam of Scribner Books, and Ethan Joella for the opportunity to read this advance copy. My opinions are unbiased and reflect my genuine appreciation for this engaging novel.

(I gave this 4.5 when I could)
I feel like what Ethan Joella does so well is create community from unlikely people. In this case, the story follows Jack’s local restaurant Schmidt’s on Rehoboth Beach. I didn’t know much about Delaware before this book and I have since marked this as a place I want to go on my map. Like he mentions in the book, there is a bookstore (which he lists in the credits). Throughout the book, there are pages from a visitor’s guide talking about visiting there and what it is like in different seasons.

This book takes place throughout the year (much of it seems to be in the fall/winter, which wasn’t what I was expecting. Jack has had offers to sell Schmidt’s to a local conglomerate but he doesn’t really want to, but then again, he can’t decide. He doesn’t have a family and he has been somewhat of a workaholic. His employees and the community have become his family and he tries to sort through issues with them and his own life throughout the book.

I think this is a great book to cozy up with, when you want to feel the community love. The book is divided into two parts, the first part has a lot of difficult things but the second part pulls it together. Joella leaves you with a lot of love, as always.

This book is like being dropped into the middle of the main character’s life. Things are happening but there are no wild twists and turns and I didn’t need there to be. I kept reading because the author invited me into Jack’s life and his hometown of Rehoboth and I wanted to see how things were going to turn out. It was a warm and wonderful feeling. I was sad to get to the last page.

Jack has been running his family restaurant since his father passed away. Jack has put it first and barely taken a moment to himself.

Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been buying up restaurants along the coast and makes Jack an offer to sale.

Jack wants a companion in life. Someone to share his life with, but with the restaurant taking its toll, he’s not sure he’ll ever have it. So, the offer is tempting.

When he receives startling news from the past, Jack begins to rethink a lot of things. But above all, can he let go of things that have defined him?


Ethan Joella is a great storyteller but unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me. The story moved slowly, and I never could get into the story or really connect with the characters. I’ve not had this problem with his previous books, so this one just didn’t work for me when I needed it to. I do think that there is a lot of nostalgia, and the beach setting is very nice. The premise of this book was different as well, I just wish that I felt more of the emotion that should have been present in Jack’s journey.

I look forward to these books every late spring/early summer and I am excited to see what next year brings.

I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to certain readers.

With his trademark magic of creating characters that have heart, soul, struggles and all feelings that create a humanity within them, Ethan Joella has done it again.

Jack Schmidt is a fifty-something, third generation restauranteur of Schmidt’s, a classic landmark in the coastal town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Having grown up with childhood trauma, Jack has remained single, with his entire life dedicated to his restaurant and his employees. When a big restaurant conglomerate wants to buy him out, Jack is straddled with the tough decision if it is the right time in his life to retire and live a life outside of the restaurant.

With beautiful descriptions of Rehoboth Beach, you can easily imagine the boardwalk and its sights, the smells of a beach town and the strong sense of community that living in a small town provides.

Thank you NetGalley, Scribner and Ethan Joella for providing me with an advanced copy of this beautiful story in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for an ARC. I love Rehoboth Beach and was so excited to learn this is set there. I really enjoyed Ethan’s first two novels. He does a great job capturing emotions and writing the “realest” characters. This one is my least favorite of the three. I just didn’t fall in love with the characters the same way, but I’m sure others will connect with them more. I will still be looking forward to whatever Ethan writes next!

✨This is a feel-good summer read with incredible depth and heart. If you’re looking for a book to make you laugh through tears, this is the one.

✨There is so much wisdom and hopefulness in these pages with authentic characters you can’t help but root for and themes of family legacy and grief and the way it informs the whole of our lives.

✨I love the sense of place that Ethan Joella writes into his novels. This one reads like a love letter to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware and makes me need to visit as soon as possible.

✨At its heart, this is a story of love, loss, family, legacy and new beginnings. It’s one I won’t soon forget. I highly recommend.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Restaurant workplace dynamics
✨Beach town culture
✨Family drama
✨Delaware settings
✨Male main character

My thanks to @scribnerbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

I absolutely loved Ethan Joella's first two novels, so I was thrilled when NetGalley approved my request to read his upcoming book, The Same Bright Stars. It has a similar feel to his other work, in that it's character driven with a quiet feel, but never boring. It's different in that his others told the story from several different viewpoints, and this one was all from one character, Jack, the owner of his family restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Jack has dedicated his entire adult life to running the restaurant, and is finally, in his 40's, considering selling it and trying to have an actual life of his own. There is more to it than that, of course, and a secret from his past that comes to his attention and forces him to take a hard look at what he wants out of his life. And he has to reconcile his painful feelings of abandonment from his mother.

I didn't connect with this one quite as strongly as I did Joella's other novels, but I did enjoy it. He is an automatic-buy author for me, and I am already looking forward to his next book. A huge thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a lovely story about three generations and their beachfront family restaurant. I loved following Jack’s story as he grapples with life after his father’s death. This story really touched me deeply, maybe because I recently lost my father and I felt a connection. The writing is simple, beautiful, and emotional. This would make a perfect book club read and I plan to recommend it. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC.

I enjoyed how this book had shorter chapters. It was a wholesome and heartwarming book. I did feel like it was slow moving and the story line was mundane—no climax in the plot.

“The Same Bright Stars” by Ethan Joella is a sweet story about the owner of a small but well known restaurant in tiny beach town on the coast of Delaware. Jack the owner is contemplating retirement but is torn for many reasons including the memories of generations of family ownership. The story deals with the issues of family trauma and long held secrets and past love. It’s a cozy and heartwarming story but filled with hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5

I am not quite sure what it is about this book. But it felt cozy. Like a warm hug. Something about Joella’s writing and storytelling feels comforting even when the story touches on hard topics.

I enjoyed following Jack as he grapples with whether to sell his restaurant. Seeing him interact with his employees and friends. Seeing him come to grips with a revelation about his life. And then finally decide what will make him happy.

This is a lovely summery story. And also feels like a little love note to Rehoboth beach. Definitely recommend.



[cw - death of parents; suicide; mental health disorders; dementia; discussion of abortion]

Jack Schmidt is in his fifties and is exhausted running his families restaurant, never having time or energy to enjoy the charms of the beach front town he lives in. He feels responsible for all his employees, but is considering selling out to a big realtor that is buying out many of the small eateries along the coast. When he discovers a big secret from his past his world is upended, and he needs to re evaluate his life and his priorities.

I loved Ethan Joellas first two novels so I was almost afraid to try this one, but I did not need to worry. Just like the other novels, he gives us a wonderful found family story, with shades of both grief, hope, family and friendship. The novel is set in the authors stomping ground of Rehoboth Beach Delaware, and the sense of place is strong here, and I am ready to plan a visit tomorrow! Jacks immediate family is all gone, but the supportive cast of his best friend and his wife and their family, as well as the restaurant staff makes a family full of wonderful characters. I loved the ending as well, where although everything is not tied up in a bow, we have lots of positive possibilities. If you enjoyed his first two books I think you will love this one, and if you haven't read them..... why not?

Thank you to net galley and Scribner for the e galley of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

4.25 stars

Ethan Joella's THE SAME BRIGHT STARS (publishes July 2, 2024) features Jack, a man in his early 50s who is carrying on the family tradition of operating the restaurant Schmidts in the beach town of Rehoboth, Delaware. The rest of his family is deceased, yet his staff fills in as his family, along with his friends Deacon and Andie. I loved the family Jack has created. A corporation is wanting to buy Schmidts, and Jack struggles between deciding whether to sell the restaurant and finally taking time for himself and his obligation to his employees as their employer.

When he finds out a shocking secret from his past, Jack's world turns upside down and he's forced to confront his past, present, and future with a new perspective.

I'm not sure I've ever read a book set in Delaware, and I loved the beachy boardwalk setting that is also Joella's home. The beach setting resonates even in the winter portions of the book. I loved Jack's character, an upstanding guy who usually does the right thing. His friendship with Deacon comes across as genuine and supportive. He also has a kindness and directness as a manager toward his employees. I also really liked how the main plotline wrapped up - not quite in a bow but yet optimistic.

This is my favorite so far of Joella's three novels. There were a lot of topics brought up (maybe too many?), several of which could be triggering (suicide, abortion). Joella handles these topics deftly, so you're in good hands. The plot was a bit bumpy at times - as in, not woven as smoothly as I think it could have been when plot points are dropped for a huge chunk of the book and then resolved seemingly out of nowhere.

While this novel looks to be a light, summery read from the cover, it has a lot of depth with an unforgettable main character.

This is a story of family, of a life well lived, a simple life, but also a life surrounded by others who, as time passes, become a kind of family, if not by blood, as well. And, as with most lives, sprinkled here and there with grief. Grief over the loss of a life, as well as the loss of a love, and betrayal. And, thankfully, forgiveness.

Set in Delaware, in the town of Rehoboth Beach, Jack Schmidt inherited his family’s restaurant, and as this story begins, Thanksgiving is approaching. There’s so much to do as the holiday approaches, but this year seems to be harder than the years before, not so much the work, his heart just isn’t in it this year. He’s been approached to sell the restaurant, which begins to feel more like pestered, the memories of spending all these years here surrounded by the people he knew as a child, and those that he has met in the years that followed. He wonders what life would be like without this restaurant, without them. What would he do with his time, what would he do with the rest of his life?

Once upon a time there was a girl in his life that he loved, but she disappeared from his life. He never knew why, until one day, as he’s wrestling his conscience over what to do about the restaurant, a friend of theirs shares the story of this girl that he’d loved, and it changes how he sees everything.

A sweet story, with some darker moments, but mostly sprinkled with charm, compassion, love and memories.



Pub Date: 02 Jul 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Scribner

4.5⭐️ Ethan Joella has become a must read author for me. His books are quiet. The pacing — let’s say it’s patient. But the characters are just such good humans. You don’t want his books to end. You don’t want to say goodbye to his characters. And this one had a great plot twist half way through.