Where the Forest Meets the Stars

As soon as I read the description of this book I was intrigued to discover more. The complexity of the three main characters was fascinating, each with their own adversities to overcome. As the story unfolded, I was drawn further into it, turning pages till I was almost late for appointments on several occasions. I thought the plot was perfectly believable, carefully formed in every detail, and amazingly creative. Totally different to my initial expectations. The final reveal of Ursa's true story was terrifying in its similarity to many of the problems that plague today's world. I loved Jo and the strength she shows in dealing with her health problems, as well as her compassion when a lost girl shows up at her cabin. Gabe had a problematic childhood and shares the same isolation and loneliness as Jo, which draws them together as they both try to help their mysterious visitor. The innocence that Ursa displays is wonderful, so lovable, and thoroughly heart-warming. This is a debut novel that I would recommend for a reader who enjoys an encouraging, emotional story. This is definitely on my "More of the same" shelf in Goodreads.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝗪𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 @glendyvanderah⁣ ⁣ ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5⁣ ⁣ It lost its last star because without giving the game away, I wanted more love and lust out of the last chapter then I got. But on to the magic...⁣ ⁣ This was a truly incredible read. This opened up such a broad range of emotions, it took me to a fearful reality then the next second transported to a parallel universe. Absolutely adored all of the characters, in particular Gabe and Ursa. I think I quite fancied Gabe. Such a cleverly thought up plot, I wonder, did Glenda ever have her own imaginary world or imaginary friend growing up?⁣ ⁣ "𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘰'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘑𝘰 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘜𝘳𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝟻 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝟻 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘜𝘳𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮?"⁣ ⁣ It had similar vibes to The Shack, which is a book that changed my life. Highly recommend reading about Ursa, Jo & Gabe's story. Its 321 pages of pure magical contentment. ⁣ ⁣ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬. ⁣

I wasn’t sure to start with but I couldn’t put it down. Without spoiling it I still am unsure about my hypotheses but I like that about this book. A lovely page turner

Jo is a graduate student specialising in bird ecology and conservation. She’s also a cancer survivor. While Jo is researching the nesting success of indigo buntings in rural Illinois, a young girl turns up bearing bruises that hint strongly of physical abuse. The girl claims to be an alien from the pinwheel galaxy who cannot leave Earth until she’s seen five miracles. Obviously she can’t be what she claims (can she?) but where is she really from and is she in danger? Jo and Gabe, the enigmatic egg-seller who lives near the property Jo is renting, try to figure out the mystery of Ursa. This story has well-constructed characters and a plot-line that moves along at a pace that kept me turning page after page, but which didn’t lose me in a convoluted knot of threads like some other books have been known to. The characters have relatable, human flaws which are described with compassion and deep understanding. I loved this innovative and captivating story from the first page to the last. Bravo, Glendy Vanderah!

This is an out and out love story. Not my usual choice of reading but best of the bunch from the First Reads. Starts off well and as other reviewers have said, enchanting but then tends to drag on and become twee. Have to say that I doubt men will enjoy this as it’s too ‘lovey dovey’. There are also certain issues thrown into the mix that do stretch credibility. That said, take the book at face value- it’s a journey into a light hearted fantasy with some realistic life problems dealt with in an alternative manner. If you enjoy escapism then this will ‘hit the mark’, otherwise you maybe disappointed.

From the first page I was invested. With such unique characters it was hard not to be. I liked the style of writing, the plot, the emotions. It had almost everything. I just didn’t like the scenario with the dog at the end. Poor Little Bear! Apart from that, I devoured this story in two sittings and would definitely read more from this author.

What a wonderful book! It was suggested to me from a book club and I started reading reluctantly but found myself hooked after just the first chapter!

I fell in love with this little girl she was so special and really believed she was an alien x

Very enjoyable book lots of interesting characters that leaves you not sure exactly what maybe real. Different storyline, great book.

I didnt expect to be so completely captivated by this book . This book is written so well that after a long time I have been so involved with all the characters n their journey. I was wonderfully surprised. Specially the talk about depression, cancer and other things was done very properly with research n compassion. I cried n laughed n truly loved the journey that this book took me on n for that I am very thankful to the writer

I bought this book for the title only, and it does the book justice. A wonderful tale of attachment and love weaved into a forest setting. No spoilers here, but do not miss the opportunity to benefit from the experience of this read.

At first, I thought the novel was pure fantasy, given the way Ursa enters into the life of Jo, claiming she came from the stars. However, nothing magic happens, but everything is so normal, such as things that happen among normal people. Ursa mingles into the lives of the neighbors so naturally, yet so intensively, that she changes everybody’s life, and, certainly, for the better. Ursa is the missing puzzle piece, the one that brings happiness and love to everyone she meets. Reality prevails over fantasy and long she was really an alien coming from the stars. I think it is a great book. An original story that moved me and reminded me of the importance of enjoying every minute of my life, while I have it.

Glendy Vanderah’s Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a breathtaking debut novel that effortlessly blends magic, mystery, and raw human emotion. The story pulls readers into an enchanting world where three unlikely souls—Ursa, Joanna, and Gabe—find each other and create an unbreakable bond. With its perfect balance of drama, heartache, and hope, this novel is a masterfully woven tale of love, loss, and healing. The story follows Joanna, a scientist conducting field research, who stumbles upon a mysterious little girl named Ursa. Claiming to be an alien from another galaxy, Ursa refuses to leave until she witnesses five miracles. As Joanna and her reclusive neighbor, Gabe, take her in, their lives become entwined in ways neither could have expected. The novel keeps readers engaged by slowly unraveling Ursa’s true origins, all while exploring deep themes of grief, trauma, mental illness, and resilience. The way Vanderah reveals the truth behind Ursa’s past is beautifully executed, holding back key revelations until the final act. This slow-burn storytelling ensures that readers remain emotionally invested, mirroring Joanna’s own journey of discovery. Each character is deeply layered, with personal struggles that make them feel real and relatable. Joanna is a strong yet vulnerable protagonist, carrying the weight of personal trauma, while Gabe’s battles with depression and isolation add further depth to the narrative. Ursa, with her whimsical and wise-beyond-her-years personality, is the heart of the novel—both a mystery to be solved and a beacon of hope. What makes this book truly special is how Vanderah uses these characters to highlight the power of human connection. Each of them carries significant pain, yet through love and trust, they find solace in one another. Vanderah’s writing is immersive and poetic, drawing readers into a world that feels both real and magical. She seamlessly weaves heavy themes like death, illness, and abuse into a story that ultimately feels uplifting. The novel’s emotional weight is balanced by moments of warmth, humor, and wonder, making it a deeply moving read. For a debut novel, Where the Forest Meets the Stars is astonishing in its depth and quality. It offers a Shakespearean-style comedy, delivering a profound message about love, resilience, and the unexpected ways in which people come into our lives. This is more than just a story—it’s an experience, one that lingers long after the final page. An absolute must-read.