See the Stars
Published on 10. July 2025
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-0-349-43676-0 (ISBN)
Description
A new heart-warming novel, perfect for bookclubs, from Eleanor Ray, the bestselling author of Everything Is Beautiful. ??
'Genuine, sweet, and filled with hope.' - Reader review
'It was pure magic from start to finish.' - Reader review
'I was completely wrapped up in its gentle, hopeful magic.' - Reader review
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Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?
When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.
Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?
Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel reminds us all that we need the darkness if we want to see the stars.
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PRAISE FOR See the Stars ??:
'A gorgeous, heart-warming hug of a book, perfect reading for warm nights under clear skies' SAM HOLLAND
'A new Eleanor Ray book is a treat to be savoured. Threaded with heartbreak, See the Stars is a beautiful, life-affirming story . . . Utterly transporting, it moved me to tears. Perfect' HEATHER CRITCHLOW
' It had me laughing and also brought me to tears. It's extraordinary. I'm buying for everyone I know.' RACHEL WOLF
' Eleanor Ray has a magical ability to scatter tears and laughter like stardust through her stories . . . Buy a copy for your mum, your sister, your friend - your entire book club - they'll thank you later.' JO FURNISS
'It is a quietly powerful and heartwarming novel about rediscovery, resilience, and what it truly means to live.' - Reader review
'Quiet pacing, emotional resonance, and moments of real beauty.' - Reader review
-----------------------
PRAISE FOR ELEANOR RAY'S DEBUT NOVEL, Everything Is Beautiful:
'This book took hold of me and wouldn't let me go until I turned the final page' BETH O'LEARY
'Funny, tender and uplifting' BBC RADIO 4
'Beautifully written and thought-provoking' KATIE FFORDE
'This is one of those books you just want to gulp down in one' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'Like the objects Amy collects, this novel is a treasure all of its own' Woman
'A joy to read, and very beautiful indeed' Lisa Dickenson
'A total treat of a read - warm, enchanting and intriguing, with an unforgettable protagonist at its heart' Holly Miller
'There's an intriguing mystery at the heart of this emotional but uplifting debut novel' Sunday Express
'Beautifully written and full of compassion, kindness and hope' Irish Independent
'A gorgeous, warm hug of a novel' Sinead Moriarty
'A tonic for the soul' Lesley Kara
'Charming and thrilling, romantic and gripping' Claire Kendal
'Eleanor Ray has perfectly captured how it feels to not quite fit in' M W Craven
'Genuine, sweet, and filled with hope.' - Reader review
'It was pure magic from start to finish.' - Reader review
'I was completely wrapped up in its gentle, hopeful magic.' - Reader review
-----------------------
Do you ever feel that life isn't going to plan?
When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life - steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city - isn't everything she'd hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn't fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.
Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother's best friend and Alice's teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?
Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel reminds us all that we need the darkness if we want to see the stars.
-----------------------
PRAISE FOR See the Stars ??:
'A gorgeous, heart-warming hug of a book, perfect reading for warm nights under clear skies' SAM HOLLAND
'A new Eleanor Ray book is a treat to be savoured. Threaded with heartbreak, See the Stars is a beautiful, life-affirming story . . . Utterly transporting, it moved me to tears. Perfect' HEATHER CRITCHLOW
' It had me laughing and also brought me to tears. It's extraordinary. I'm buying for everyone I know.' RACHEL WOLF
' Eleanor Ray has a magical ability to scatter tears and laughter like stardust through her stories . . . Buy a copy for your mum, your sister, your friend - your entire book club - they'll thank you later.' JO FURNISS
'It is a quietly powerful and heartwarming novel about rediscovery, resilience, and what it truly means to live.' - Reader review
'Quiet pacing, emotional resonance, and moments of real beauty.' - Reader review
-----------------------
PRAISE FOR ELEANOR RAY'S DEBUT NOVEL, Everything Is Beautiful:
'This book took hold of me and wouldn't let me go until I turned the final page' BETH O'LEARY
'Funny, tender and uplifting' BBC RADIO 4
'Beautifully written and thought-provoking' KATIE FFORDE
'This is one of those books you just want to gulp down in one' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'Like the objects Amy collects, this novel is a treasure all of its own' Woman
'A joy to read, and very beautiful indeed' Lisa Dickenson
'A total treat of a read - warm, enchanting and intriguing, with an unforgettable protagonist at its heart' Holly Miller
'There's an intriguing mystery at the heart of this emotional but uplifting debut novel' Sunday Express
'Beautifully written and full of compassion, kindness and hope' Irish Independent
'A gorgeous, warm hug of a novel' Sinead Moriarty
'A tonic for the soul' Lesley Kara
'Charming and thrilling, romantic and gripping' Claire Kendal
'Eleanor Ray has perfectly captured how it feels to not quite fit in' M W Craven
Reviews / Votes
A gorgeous, heart-warming hug of a book, perfect reading for warm nights under clear skies. A story of reinvention and optimism, a reminder that dreams should never be forgotten and incredible futures can come true if you just give them the chance. -- Sam Holland A new Eleanor Ray book is a treat to be savoured. Threaded with heartbreak, See the Stars is a beautiful, life-affirming story . . . Utterly transporting, it moved me to tears. Perfect. -- Heather Critchlow 'SEE THE STARS is a triumph. Eleanor Ray creates characters that leap off the page, with all the sparkle and stardust the book promises. It had me laughing and also brought me to tears. It's extraordinary. I'm buying for everyone I know.' -- Rachel Wolf Eleanor Ray has a magical ability to scatter tears and laughter like stardust through her stories. See The Stars is an utterly charming read, with relatable characters who are perfectly imperfect, and human dilemmas that require emotionally complex solutions. Buy a copy for your mum, your sister, your friend - your entire book club - they'll thank you later. -- Jo Furniss Uplifting and life-affirming, a glowing, gorgeous novel about following your path and finding your way. I loved it. -- Andrea Mara It was such a joy to read and I found it a lovely, gentle novel with an irresistible journey of finding hopes and dreams right in front of you and not only in the stars. -- Lorna CookMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 143 mm
Width: 223 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
390 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-349-43676-0 (9780349436760)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Eleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.
Eleanor was inspired to write EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL (UK)/ THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON (US) by the objects her toddler collects and treasures - twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies. She is currently working on her next novel.
Eleanor was inspired to write EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL (UK)/ THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON (US) by the objects her toddler collects and treasures - twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies. She is currently working on her next novel.