Ethan Joella is the master of writing quiet, tight stories about ordinary people doing ordinary things that pack a huge punch. I loved this book and cried on my train ride home when I got to the end. I’m not a crier either.

In THE SAME BRIGHT STARS, Joella tells the story of Jack, a workaholic, adrift restaurant owner who wears crocs and tees and perpetually needs a haircut. Jack took over his family business, a restaurant on Rehoboth Beach, and is devoted to the food and history that make his restaurant an institution in Rehoboth. DelDine, a corporate restaurant company, is hot to get Jack to sell to them for a lot of money. Nicole, who works for DelDine, always seems to pop up when Jack is around.

Then Jack’s old finance, Kitty, comes home from Oregon because her mother, who loves Jack, is very close to dying. (I hate sequels but I feel like Kitty has a story to tell and I want to hear it.)

There are so many good characters in this book. Please meet them. Deacon, Genevieve, Ziggy, Markie, Lara. Some of them only appear for a bit, but I didn’t forget them.

Also, the plot twists are done so well and in a way that is not at all cheesy or eye rolling (my pet peeve with books.)

While Joella really knows how to develop characters, I missed the multiple POVs that his previous two novels used. Still a good read, but would have loved to read from the perspective of some of the other characters in the novel.
Also they didn't really bother me, but I didn't think the tidbits about Rehoboth Beach really added to the novel.

3.5/5

Thanks the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of The Same Bright Stars.

Oh, this book!

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 was the June pick for #readspinrepeatbookclub and I cannot wait for our discussion. It's the story of Jack, who's middle aged, single, childless and running a restaurant in Rehobeth Beach like his father and grandmother did before him. When the opportunity to sell it arises, he has to decide whether a chance at a different life is worth giving up everything he knows.

It was so refreshing to read a book about a man who's facing a mid-life crisis and questioning the choices he's made (although I highly doubt it will get categorized as "men's fiction"). Joella creates such realistic characters and really brings the beach town to life - you can tell it's an ode to a place he loves. The way Jack's story explores explores grief, legacy, found family and connection truly touched me, and I adored every page of this melancholy yet hopeful novel.

4.5 stars

Thanks to Scribner for the copy to review.

Another great read from Ethan Joella! Similar vibes as Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J Ryan Stradal but with more heart and great characters.

I loved Jack and his struggles to both hold on and let go of his family’s well loved local restaurant. And I loved the aspects of found family and community that hold everyone gently together.

Would round up to 4.5 stars!

Thank you so much to Scribner for the advance eARC!

Ethan has become one of my favorite authors and humans and when he announced his next book was going to be taking place in Delaware, I was super excited! It is very common from those in Pennsylvania to escape to the beaches of Delaware specifically Rehoboth. I am very connected to the town as I have been spending my birthdays there for the last 6 years and I just love the whole vibe of the town.

Ethan has a way with his words that puts you there in the setting and really paints the town for you. This I believe was the first time Ethan strayed away from the multi point of view to single point of view. And honestly I am so happy that we stayed in Jack's point of view because I was just so drawn to his story. He has this opportunity to sell his family's restaurant and retire after working hard for many years and you really see the complicated feelings he has towards this decision. We get to meet the folks who help make up Schmidts and how Jack is involved in their life and how they are involved in his. And it really goes to show how much your co workers and place of business really can become a second home.

"He thinks we are all just small things, each person just a sum of days."

I do love the layers that Ethan put throughout this book with the different characters. Jack himself has all these dimensions and you see him even as a grown man still work through things that made such a big impact from when he was younger. He still is grieving his mother whom he lost as a teen, past relationships, his friendships everything that makes a person. I was actually surprised we got so much of him reflecting and coming to peace with his mother's passing as an older man. He learns some unexpected news that really changed his life from that moment on. There are some heavy topics within Jack's story and I hate to use the word refreshing but it has a topic that we don't always see the male side of it and I feel like that is very important to have out there.

The writing is such beautiful and I have seen other reviews say this is a slow build and I have to agree. But it was the best slow build because when that moment happened (and you'll know), I wanted to keep going just to see what was going to happen. And one thing I always praise Ethan for is, he doesn't overdo things by dragging situations out longer than they need. His books are on the shorter side and I always feel like they are the perfect length and they pack a punch. WIth that being said, him and I will be having a discussion on that ending because this may be the first time where I wanted more. And once you read, you'll know what I mean and I think you will feel the same.

Another quiet, lovely novel from the author of A Quiet Life, about love, loss, and the connections we make with others. Read this, and also read The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction.

I've read all of Ethan Joella's books and The Same Bright Stars is easily my favorite. This is one of those books that you don't want to end but at the same time can't turn the pages fast enough. A must read!

My thoughts- The Same Bright Stars is a quiet, melancholy book about a man having to decide if he should sell the family restaurant he’s devoted his life to running. It isn’t a happy beach read— although it does take place on the picturesque Rehobeth Beach- a place that I now want to visit! ⁣
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⁣Ethan Joella has a gift for writing vivid characters in ordinary life events that somehow steal your heart. The Same Bright Stars is really an exploration on the meaning of family (both blood and non-blood) and the importance of connections between people. It’s emotional, heartfelt, and felt very real! ⁣
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⁣I highly recommend! Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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⁣Thank you to @netgalley for an ARC of The Same Bright Stars in return for my honest review.

Ethan Joella has a must read author for me. I love his story telling, his crafting of characters, the heart and emotion of each novel.

The Same Bright Stars differs from his previous two works by narrowing in on a sole character’s perspective. We follow Jack, a fifty-something unmarried restaurant owner, contemplating selling his beach town family business to a big corporation. While I love multiple perspectives in a novel, having Jack’s perspective alone was the perfect way to tell this story.

Joella’s quiet, slow, character focused pacing works well in his novels. Even with a few unexpected turns and gut punches, they always feel like a warm hug in the form of a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner books.

4.5⭐️

The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella revolves around Jack Schmidt, the fifty-two-year-old owner of a beachfront restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, that has been in the family for three generations. We follow Jack as he ponders over his options of continuing with the restaurant that he has devoted his life to or accepting the offer made to him by a large restaurant corporation to buy him out. Jack is compelled to takes stock of his life and contemplate what a future without the restaurant, which is his family legacy could look like, while also considering how his decision would affect his employees who Jack cares deeply about and the local community which considers Schmidt’s a local beacon.

Jack is single, has never been married and has never ventured outside his community after college but is conflicted about his decision, emotionally exhausted and feels the need for freedom from the responsibilities he has prioritized his whole adult life that have taken a toll on his personal relationships. His thoughts often drift to the memories of those who came before him - memories of his grandmother and father - and how the restaurant has always been a safe place for him in his most difficult moments. Complicating matters further is some shocking news related to his past, that has Jack questioning some of the choices he made decades ago and his realization that his life as he knew it will never be the same again.

The narrative is shared from Jack’s perspective through past and present timelines and is interspersed with segments from a guidebook describing the town through the seasons. The writing is crisp yet elegant and the author conveys the thoughts and emotions of his characters with insight and wisdom. What I particularly liked about the writing was that even in the tensest or most emotionally charged moments, the author does not unnecessarily embellish. Both timelines are well-developed and I liked how the different threads of the narrative come together as the story progresses. There are a few plot points that could have been explored further but this did not detract from my overall experience.

This is a slow-paced, character-driven novel with well-thought-out characters. Jack is a very likable protagonist – kind and generous - and it is easy to relate to him as broods over his past and present choices. I loved the setting and found the dynamic between Jack and his friends and employees incredibly heartening. The narrative features several subplots revolving around Jack’s friends and acquaintances deftly woven into the story, which allow us a better understanding of Jack as a person and his relationships with those he holds dear. The tone of the novel mostly shifts between nostalgic, melancholic and contemplative, but the author balances this with several light-hearted and heartwarming moments that make you smile. The ending felt realistic and I liked how the author concludes the story on a hopeful note and does not force an overly dramatic ending.

A story about family, community and human connection, legacy and personal growth, this is a beautifully written novel that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven stories that inspire pause and reflection.

This was my first Ethan Joella novel and I hope to explore more of his work.

Many thanks to Scribner for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was warm and sad and lovely. Joella fans will find much of what they already love in these pages, but with a refreshing new story. Highly recommend.

Ethan Joella’s writing style is unique and captivating. The story is slower paced, but the characters feel so real. This story takes place at a beachfront restaurant and is a perfect summer read if you enjoy stories about small town communities and found families. Thanks for sharing an early copy with me!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is my second book by the author and I really enjoy his writing and character development. This had lovely summer vibes in the melancholic way that Ethan Joella crafts a story. I immediately vibed with the characters and was invested in the drama. This story felt a bit "heavier" to me which may be the topics that the characters had to face (I do not want to spoil anything). Consider looking up content warnings prior if you're unfamiliar with the authors work. I did prefer A Quiet Life just a bit more, so I am landing at 3.75 stars rounded to 4. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a character driven, slow paced summer read to make you feel something.

Ethan Joella has the market cornered on quiet, character-driven novels that draw you in and keep you turning the pages. The Same Bright Stars centers around Jack and his family’s Delaware beach restaurant which may or may not fall prey to a big time developer. This book focuses on family, friendships, and first loves. A sweet story of redemption - the Rehoboth Beach setting makes this a great one to toss in your beach bag.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC.

An excellent summer read, set in a small beach town. If you like Hallmark movies and small town stories this book is for you. This is a comming of age story focus on the life of Jack Schmidt. The reader follows Jack as he struggle to make the right decisions for his life moving forward. Jack is the third generation owner of a local beach restaurant. The restaurant is important to Jack, but he questions if it's time to retire and what that means both for him and the restaurant including his long time employees that feel like family. In the process of making his decision Jack finds out a major secret that could influence the course of his life. He has to deal with how his new information effects his life and make the right decisions for the furture?

Well written with well developed characters not only the main character Jack, but many of the supporting characters all of whom play an important role in the story. It a relatable book as Jack faces many struggles we all felt before in terms of making big decisions and being sad about the past and concerned about the future.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner books for this advanced reader's copy. I've read all of Ethan Joella's books and they all give me the FEELS. He writes with such heart. This book is all about family, what it means to be true to your family, but also what it means to be true to yourself. I will read anything Ethan Joella writes and I'm super jealous that my niece is currently a student right now at the University of Delaware and could take one of his English classes (even though she is a science major ;)

Set in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, this story centers around Jack, a restaurant owner who is questioning whether to sell to a corporation who wants to buy him out while also dealing with surprising news about his past. This is a book about relationships, change, and possibility. I like the author's writing style and his ability to make the lives of his characters seem both ordinary and extraordinary. This is my third book by this author and I've enjoyed them all.

Whenever I pickup a book by Ethan Joella I wish I was in school studying English in his class so I could listen and observe and try to understand how to make magic out of a very simple story.

In a small town that is a “mix of yesterday and today”, a man owns a restaurant, it has been in his family for years. The restaurant defines him, his time, his place, most everything about him. He is nice to people and they like him, yet some of them steal from him and he is so disappointed. He has trouble with relationships because the restaurant requires so much time that it sucks the life out of him. Disappointments can push you to bad decisions, time can be a friend or an enemy. It really is a simple story but it involves complex thoughts and emotions.

The people who inhabit the pages are so well drawn and speak with authenticity. The emotions, confusion and indecision come across so clearly.The descriptions are so realistic that you can see the restaurant’s blue awning and Schmidt’s, the family name on the sign. It is all about the writing and that is absolutely extraordinary.

I am so thankful that Scribner and NetGalley allowed me a copy of this book.

Ethan Joella's The Same Bright Stars beautifully explores the life of Jack Schmidt, who is devoted to running his family's beachfront restaurant. Jack's dedication has cost him personal happiness, with failed relationships and no leisure time. When the DelDine group offers to buy Schmidt’s, Jack faces a tough choice between preserving his family's legacy and pursuing a life of his own. This poignant novel captures the struggle between duty and desire, and the transformative power of new beginnings. Joella’s storytelling is heartfelt and deeply engaging, making it a compelling read.

Ethan Joella is the kind of storyteller who just speaks to my heart. His writing is unpretentious, yet beautiful. His characters are so masterfully drawn that they feel like people you actually know. He paints Rehobeth Beach with such realistic sights, sounds and smells that I felt as if I were there again. Well done Mr. Joella!
The Same Bright Stars is not a fast paced plot driven book. Yet plot is not ignored. It simply meanders throughout the dailyness of the lives of both the main character and the supporting cast. The author slyly places tidbits that roll together to a rather predictable conclusion. This is a satisfying comfort read. It's a book full of poignant moments that bring soft tears to your eyes. It is a book that will convince you to read anything this author writes.
Oh, and its a book that will have you making travel plans to Rehobeth. In October.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner books for this ARC.