This was a deeply thought-provoking and emotional read. I loved the large cast of beautifully developed, memorable characters, and a setting so richly nuanced and visual it stands apart as another character entirely.

The Vis Ta Vie Inn, run by Renée and Jean-Paul De La Rue, feels like a place I’ve stayed before. And like the innkeepers themselves, I felt graciously welcomed into the lives of these people and their quiet struggles.

Beautifully written with a keen sense of pacing and plot, this is the kind of story that draws you in and holds you tenderly until the very last page. And like the best vacations, it leaves you lingering at the threshold—stealing one final glimpse of a fleeting moment, made more precious for its transience.

Thank you Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this ARC with me

I absolutely loved this book. Excellent writing - Rochelle did a wonderful job of building out the setting and crafting a broad cast of characters that all felt realistic and relatable. The complex story was woven together really well, with excellent characterization and emotionally affecting and satisfying ending. I found myself wanting to visit the inn, wanting to meet the characters - to be at the table with them sharing a meal and conversation. I don't always get fully immersed in a book - but this one enveloped me.

An intimate look at relationships at a crossroads, set against the charming backdrop of the De La Rue’s inn. The intertwining stories of the guests—each grappling with their own struggles—are portrayed with warmth and emotional depth.
The characters feel authentic and relatable, making their journeys of betrayal, regret, and healing all the more impactful. While some plotlines occasionally feel familiar, the book’s thoughtful exploration of love’s complexities and the promise of new beginnings shines through.
A touching and well-crafted read for anyone who appreciates emotional drama and nuanced character work.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for an early copy!

I really enjoyed this one! So glad I had the opportunity to meet and celebrate Rochelle at Sam Woodruff’s recently, and I can’t wait to handsell this novel!

"We Are Made of Stars" is a heartfelt story about love, loss, and finding oneself again. It takes place in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy deep emotions and thoughtful storytelling.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.

I loved this book! All the POVs were so clear that I never got confused as to who was speaking. Rochelle Weinstein expertly wove all the characters' stories together until the explosive and satisfying ending. The food descriptions were so detailed and made me want to be at the table with the guests. Another great and engrossing read from the author. One of my favorites of hers!

This novel is set over the course of a week at a fancy inn in North Carolina, rotating perspectives about ten characters - the married innkeepers, and the guests - 3 married couples and a mother and teenage daughter. Everyone there has their own secrets and problems, which slowly come to light over the course of the week as everyone eats meals and spends time together.

This was a really engaging read with interesting characters, with both fights and unique bonds occurring over the course of the week. It’s contemporary fiction and by no means a thriller, yet as the secrets started getting revealed I found I seriously couldn’t put it down as I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Truly enjoyed this one - it was my first book by Rochelle B. Weinstein but definitely won’t be my last!

This is only the second book of Rochelle B. Weinstein's that I have read, I do enjoy here writing, and this was overall a good story. I personally just couldn't keep my focus in the first half of the book; this is a very character driven story. I enjoyed the second half of the book the most. I can't wait to read more of Rochelle B. Weinstein's books.

Thank you, Net Galley and Lake Union, Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 solid stars for this touching novel. It reminded me a bit of Steven Rowley’s The Celebrants but much better. There were a lot of characters but they were developed well. Themes of betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, family and belonging. A read this quickly and the writing flowed well. I loved the food aspect and the menu & wine pairings. As a resident in NC I loved the setting! Read it and enjoy!

Some quotes that resonated:

And maybe that was the crux of life. Sometimes there weren’t any answers, and you just had to figure out a way to move forward.

“Some people are just limited. That’s all. It doesn’t mean there’s no love. It just means they’re incapable of more.”

“Give yourself time. And if there’s one thing you should focus on, it’s not whether you love this person, because the answer is yes. It’s always yes. It’s a reflex. The real question is, can I live without this person? Legitimately gone. Think about it. Loving someone’s easy. Living without them—that’s what you need to figure out. And if you can’t live without them, then do everything in your power to fix this.”

I read this novel somewhat blind, not having read the plot. This is something I have never done before. I had received an ARC on @netgalley, but never got the time to read it in advance. I then saw a ton of media when the book was actually released and so much of it was positive, with 5 star reviews, especially with other authors I follow. So, I made it a point to read it.

For me it started out slow, but as we get to know the characters and got little teases and snippets of their stories, I started wanting to know more. I feel like @rochellebweinstein would give us little kibbles of information, that was just enough to both satisfy us but also leave us wanting, then change characters and do the same with their stories. It was reminiscent of a Liane Moriarty novel in that there are many characters, each with their own stories, that all seem to come together in the end. And I just love this type of writing and story.

To me, the best part of this book was the lesson in it. It shows that the deterioration of relationships is not usually due to one person or one event, but a series of them that lead people away from rather than toward each other. It takes work and accountability on both parts to find their way back if both want to.

My biggest criticism of this novel is that cheating is a very common theme among the characters. While, this theme manifested in different ways for each one and cheating didn’t always actually happen, I felt that it almost seemed that in the right circumstances almost anyone will. Which to me is a depressing thought on human nature. Despite this, I thought it was a great read and I will definitely be making it a point to read more by Rochelle B. Weinstein.

I don't love a story with a large cast of characters, that's just personal preference since I tend to get lost. However I do love foodie fiction.
Despite so many characters each one had a distinct voice and was very well developed.
The inn itself was charming and the food descriptions made me wanna head there.
My favorite part was the mystery element as you realized just about everyone is protecting a secret.

Really enjoyed this cast of characters. Great story and narration. At first I thought there were a lot of characters but then I got to know them all and it was fine. Just had to keep the storylines straight. Really enjoyed this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoy books like this, when an author brings together a group of people -- some who know one another, some who don't -- for a transfomative period of time that will change them forever. Of course, this is a complicated structure, and can be quite messy in the wrong hands! But Weinstein tells the story of this small group in an inn that's fallen on hard times with great skill and clarity. I found all the voices very compelling, and was very moved by the blend of betrayals, reunions, and connection revealed as the story progressed. I was most moved by the mother-daughter story, but also thought the troubled marriages felt very real I loved the resolution at the end and felt quite hopeful for these characters, who have been though a lot but ultimately show their capacity for forgiveness and renewal.

Rochelle B. Weinstein is now an auto-buy author for me. She is a beautiful storyteller, and has a way of weaving together plot lines that are surprising yet make perfect sense to the reader. In this book, several couples come together at the struggling Vis Ta Vie Inn. Over the course of a week we learn their stories and their secrets, with the backdrop of the Inn and the gourmet meals provided by their hosts. Writing from so many POVs can get authors into trouble, but Weinstein handles it with ease. She also did a great job with the setting and the inn, making it feel like its own character in the book. I truly felt like I was there with the characters.

This book had a slow start, but the characters each had an intriguing story. Coming together in this summer at a quaint Inn, these characters are grappling secrets and betrayals. Slowly the truths are revealed so healing can begin. I especially liked Rosie’s story. The ending is heartfelt and hopeful.

Foodie fiction is usually a win for me and this one was no different. A multiple POV tale of a magical place... a great read.

A cute and emotional read! A crazy bunch of people coming to this one place and some how they find their connections to each other through the vacation planned at this adorable B&B!

So many characters to follow and different stories that all have ties together. It’s great writing. Was a slow burn but it got so good I couldn’t put it down!

We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌌 Emotional chaos under starlight

A gorgeous mountain inn where everyone shows up with emotional baggage heavier than what they packed for the actual trip. And it's the LAST weekend before the place closes forever? The drama potential was astronomical (see what I did there? Because stars? I'll see myself out).

The vibes we're tracking:
🏔️ Mountain retreat but make it therapy
💔 Marriage problems that hit TOO close
👥 Found family excellence
✨ Star metaphors that somehow work

The couples in this story have LAYERS - Hollywood celebs pretending everything's fine (it's not), a practical therapist married to a star-obsessed astronomer, and that Instagram-perfect couple who's actually hanging by a thread.

"Vis Ta Vie" means "live your life" in French, and it's exactly the energy these deliciously flawed characters need. They're messy and real in ways that had me wanting to both hug and shake them.

If you love books that make you feel approximately 47 emotions simultaneously and settings so vivid you'll be Googling "mountain inns near me" at 2 AM – this one's for you! Just keep tissues handy. 💫

There was a lot that happened within the week stay at Vis Ta Vie inn. The writing was beautiful and even though there were multiple POVs they all had great depth. So many secrets came to light and the emotions slowly crept up on me. I was wondering how they were going to move forward with everything that was happening. With themes of trust, forgiveness, and acceptance it made for a heartwarming read.

This is not the first book I've read from Rochelle Weinstein, but I believe it's my favorite as well as one of the best books I've read this year. I could just feel the tension mounting throughout the book and couldn't wait to see how everything would come together. It takes place over the course of a week and is told in the alternating voices of the owners and guests of the Vis Ta Vie Inn. With a cast of diverse characters struggling with their personal battles, there is bound to be lots of drama. I have long thought that people who appear to have such perfect lives probably present a far different picture behind closed doors. This story definitely confirmed my theory. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for a copy to read and review.