Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the eARC.

I have really enjoyed Ethan Joella's novels, they are so human. This ended up being my least favorite of the three, perhaps because I missed the multi POV and how the characters all came together at the end. I also found that parts of the novel almost felt rushed and I didn't have time to fully understand how we got there or the fallout of what happened. The best part of this book for me was Lara, I really enjoyed her character and what she brought to the story.

3/5 stars.

Three generations of Schmidts have run the family restaurant in Rehobeth Beach. Now, middle aged Jack has found himself with very little life outside of the restaurant - no romantic relationship, hobbies or days off. When approached to sell the restaurant to a chain taking over other restaurants along the coast, he decides it's time to make a change. Full of great characters and a relatable story line; this is a very enjoyable book.

A great Summer read about life and loss. Each character was unique and the storyline was so wonderfully written. I did not want to put the book down an all.

Another endearing story with lovable characters from Ethan Joella. No matter the circumstances, you’ll always end up rooting for them. This is no different. The setting is inviting and Jack is such a nice person. It’s refreshing!

Ethan Joella does it again! This was such a heartfelt story about the relationships of family, friends, and coworkers. The writing was so well done. I felt for all the characters and was rooting for them. The setting of Rehoboth Beach was so fun. Now I need to plan a summer getaway there.

I highly recommend all of Ethan Joella's books!

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for this advance copy. I really enjoyed Joella’s previous novel, and the gorgeous beach cover had me excited about his newest this summer. But I felt like the cover was a little misleading, as this is not quite the beach read one would expect. It’s a more character driven novel, but there are many characters that we don’t get to know very well. It reminded me of the Virgin River series, which I really enjoy watching on Netflix, but it made this story come across as unoriginal for me. I know many readers are loving this one and it has wonderful ratings. I’m in the minority, but it just wasn’t to my taste, or perhaps it didn’t find me at the right time.

Jack Schmidt has worked in his family's Rehoboth Beach restaurant his entire life. It's all he knows. So when he's approached by a local corporate restaurant conglomerate with interest in purchasing the decades old establishment, it's one he truly considers. The people who work there, and have for years by his side, are like his family, especially since he's got no family to speak of. He comes to discover people and bonds he never thought possible....

Oh dear I just adore this author. On the surface, this story is simple, straightforward and easy. But it's powerful and compelling in it's simplicity. You can't help but love Jack, love his heart, love who he is and the relationships he's created. I felt like the setting itself, both the beach and restaurant, were vibrant supporting characters along with a huge cast of the folks Jack surrounded himself with. I savored the last 100 or so pages, desperate to see how it ended but also reluctant to turn the last page. I usually don't love somewhat ambiguous endings but this one made my heart soar in anticipation of my assumption (hope?) of what was happening in those last sentences.

I've read all three of Joella's books and this one may be my favorite. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read in exchange for my honest review. This was so lovely.

Ethan Joella’s writing continues to shine in this novel. He captured the inner workings of restaurants well, and brought a lot of depth to a wide variety of characters. I appreciated the contrast between Jack’s two romantic interest although the introduction of the long lost son was a bit far fetched for me.

It doesn’t happen often that I give five stars, but this one gets them all! The members of my book club have long been telling me to read Ethan Joella’s work. I finally did with The Same Bright Stars, and what bright stars they are! Set on Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, this is an engrossing, sentimental read.

Jack a single man in his fifties has been running the family restaurant Schmidt’s at the beach for years. He’s finally considering selling to the big man, DelDine. It’s a quiet read that will have you fully engaged throughout. It has beach nostalgia l, perfectly developed characters and a good plot line. It’s everything you need in a read.

It’s a story about family or who becomes your family when you have none. It’s about community and connection.

THE SAME BRIGHT STARS review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

⛱️I’ve read all 3 of Ethan Joella’s books and I really enjoy his writing style! They’re very character driven stories and really immerse you into the characters’ lives.

⛱️Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Jack has taken over his family’s restaurant since his father’s passing. He’s made the restaurant his entire life but is starting to wonder if it’s time to move on from the restaurant biz and focus on his personal life. A corporate chain wants to buy his restaurant. But can he trust them to make the best choices for his restaurant and its employees?

⛱️The cover and setting of this one gave me maaaajor summer vibes but a decent amount of the story takes place in the fall and winter. This one reminded me a lot of THE BLUE BISTRO (a family owned coastal restaurant preparing to close for good). Honestly I preferred THE BLUE BISTRO but I still enjoyed this one! If you’ve liked Joella’s other books I think this would be another hit for you!

⛱️Thanks @scribnerbooks for my advanced copy!

Slow and steady wins the race and THE SAME BRIGHT STARS wins the gold medal. Ethan's writing continues to be heartwarming and tender. I was drawn in from start to finish and didn't want to put this one down. So excited for its release today!

Unlike his other novels, this one was told in the singular POV of Jack Schmidt, however there is a large cast of unforgettable characters that make this novel so special. The found family feeling was so intense.

Jack's decision whether or not to sell his family's restaurant really made me think of how a single decision could really change how your life plays out. While it was a slower paced read, there was much to think about and ponder while falling in love with the setting and people that make up Jack's life.

You know that huggable book feeling that when you finish you sigh, smile, and hold the book close not wanting to have it end...that's what you'll get when you read this book. So good!

Review as posted to my Bookstagram

REVIEW

Ethan Joella is one of my repeat five star authors. He has a tremendous gift for crafting engaging, sincere, nuanced explorations of the human experience, and his newest is no different! A huge thanks to #partner @scribnerbooks for my #gifted copies. 🩷

The Same Bright Stars
Ethan Joella

Welcome to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware! ⛱️ Here we meet Jack, a third-generation restauranteur of Schmidt's, the beloved Rehoboth beachfront eatery. Now middle-aged, Jack is tiring of the mundanity of a life shackled to his family's business, and longs for a change. When DelDine, a corporation buying up restaurants along the coast, makes him a generous offer, Jack must weigh the costs and benefits of a life without Schmidt's.

The Same Bright Stars is a treasure!! It's a quiet, character-driven story that really captures that small beach town charm. I can't always picture settings in my mind while reading, but I did here. I could see the restaurant, the beach, the boardwalk... even the characters! Readers get to know Jack through both his present story, and through flashbacks to his past, and his numerous interactions with a great supporting cast. He's the kind of protagonist you'll root for, because he's an innately good human. With his knack for storytelling, Joella makes stories about everyday people compelling and memorable. At its core, The Same Bright Stars is a story of love and loss, friendship and community, family and legacy — and while it touches on some deeper issues, it's ultimately uplifting. Loved this one!

📌 Available now!

📌 Fun cover observation: I don't know if this was intentional or not, but I noticed each book depicts a season on the cover. A Little Hope - fall, A Quiet Life - winter, and The Same Bright Stars - summer. Anxious to see if book four will be spring-ish!? 👀

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It's hard to put into words a review when I adore a novel this much! With each book I love Ethan Joella's writing even more. The Same Bright Stars hit me right in All the Feels. The setting had me nostalgic for childhood summer vacations down the Jersey Shore while at the same time had me relating in many ways to Jack, a
main character within my own age bracket. It's one of those best kinds of books which breaks your heart and heals it at the same time.

Same Bright Stars is a great summer read. It reminded me so much of my home beach town and I just loved it so much. I did not expect to cry as much as I did, either. The MC, Jack, takes you through the present and past as he grows through traumas. You are really not sure what decision he will make by the end and it really kept my interest. 4 stars

This book came highly recommended to me from a few trusted sources, so I had high hopes for it. I can see why it resonated with some, but for me, it took a long time to get into the story and the plot. It was very character based and I didn’t feel an immediate pull to the characters, so I think that was my initial hang up.

Overall, I would recommend it as well, just with the fact that it starts a little slow at first and to hang in there.

Also, I have to say, I kept picturing Luke from Gilmore Girls as Jack. Similar vibes and both were set in smaller towns so I couldn’t help but make that connection as a Gilmore Girls fan.

This book was recommended to me with high praise and so I went into it with high hopes. I had a hard time connecting and feeling pulled in and so I stopped and started several times. I finally went back to it and felt hooked at about 40%. I think it was more right book, wrong time because once I was hooked, I finished it in a day. This is such a beautiful story about families, legacies, and small town indie businesses. I love the way Jack loves his restaurant family, I love the way he reflects on his life and his parents and grandmother's legacies. This is such a beautiful and reflective story, perfect summer reading.

I will definitely be sharing about this and will circle back to add links shortly.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was my first Ethan Joella novel but now i can’t wait to check out more. Vivid descriptions of the sleepy beach town, detailed character developments and lots of family and “family” drama. I enjoyed this book!

3.8 Stars
One Liner: A mellow read

The Schmidts have run the family restaurant for decades. The beachfront setting makes it a prime location for good business. Jake had been running the establishment since his father's demise. Now at 52, he is single, exhausted, and has no life beyond the restaurant.
With the DelDine group taking over many restaurants in the region, Jake knows he should sell his as well to them and finally live the life he wanted. Maybe find someone to call his own. However, he is tied to the place with many invisible bonds. The restaurant is his everything but leaves him with nothing. Can Jake make a fresh start or will he surrender his life to the restaurant?
The story comes in Jack’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
After my friend recently read ‘Men’s Fiction’ I wanted to try one. Imagine my surprise when I realized this would fit the tag, though it is marked General Fiction.
This is a character-driven story with a loose plot and an open ending. The story is divided into two parts – Jack’s indecision and what happens after he decides.
The narrative is mellow though it deals with quite a few heavy themes (parental death, PTSD, a wayward son, depression, dementia, loneliness, suicide, etc.). However, since we get the story from Jack’s POV, things are softened to a large extent. He is the kind of person who wants to say and do a lot but ends up saying almost nothing.
That means the reader has to really work to empathize with the characters. Though we know Jack’s internal thoughts, it doesn’t have the impact it should. While it would work well as a character study, it may not be a gripping story if you want more action. Of course, this is case-sensitive.
The initial pacing is slow but it picks up as we progress. The setting is also a character and the ‘snippets from the guidebook’ add to this. I like seeing the changes in Jack and his growing appreciation for the beauty around him as he learns to become active in his life.
The side characters are intriguing but I couldn’t entirely connect with any of them. I like Vivian for her no-nonsense attitude, and Nicole manages to make a mark. And oh, Lara is great too, in whatever little space she has. I wouldn’t have minded a little more detailing for others.
The restaurant, the responsibilities, the pressure from big chains and their exploiting tactics, etc., are very well presented and seamlessly woven into the plot without any excessiveness. No lectures or preaching. Just a situation and a possible solution that applies here.
I like the ending is hopeful and positive but open. It’s exactly how slice-of-life stories should conclude. Not everything is tied up neatly even if it can give me my favorite HEA. It would have been a little too neat here, so this works the best.

To summarize, The Same Bright Stars is a heartwarming read with realistic characters. It shows the various dilemmas they face in their lives and how their decisions can have long-lasting repercussions on them and others.
Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A strong character driven story we follow Jack and life in and around Rehoboth Beach. I quite enjoyed the single POV of Jack that allowed me as the reader to feel like I really knew and cared for him. I wished that this had a stronger plot, or more plot in general.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the gifted e-copy of this book.

The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella was the perfect break from the heavy thrillers and dark suspense I gravitate towards.

Jack Schmidt grew up in the restaurant business, helping his grandmother, then father, and running Schmidts himself. Now in his 50’s, he’s exhausted and needs a break from it.

He is debating on selling the business and looks at it from all angles, past and present. There are pros and cons to being done with running the restaurant, and as Jack tries to determine what to do, he is reminded of things from his past. At the same time, he’s getting pressure from a large corporation, eager to get their hands on the prime real estate of the beachside restaurant.

As he grapples with big decisions, we are also pulled into the lives of the people around him. I enjoyed living in Jack’s world, especially the setting of Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.

Three generations of Schmidts have run their family’s beachfront restaurant and Jack has been at the helm since the death of his father. Jack puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can’t remember the last time he sat on the beach, or even enjoyed a moment to himself.

Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been gradually snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast and are pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands.

Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders if closing the door on the restaurant might open a new window for him. But who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that they will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?

When he receives startling news from the past, Jack begins to reshape his life and forge unexpected new friendships. But will he really let go of the very things that have defined him?