Review of Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray (advanced bound manuscript)

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.

In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom’s Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.

In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are in the first weeks of COVID lockdown and hating Zoom school, when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.

This book surprised me. I’m not a big fan of historic fiction but thought I’d give it a try. It’s so good. And I cried a bit at the end.

I like how there are different timelines that eventually overlap. I think my favorite was the 1980 punk one. But all three interested me. It’s a tough read at times and it talks about how Hitler got everyone to follow whatever he said. I can’t imagine the isolation and being terrified everyday. My only complaint is that it was a bit long and slower at times. But I think that’s my struggle with historic fiction in general. The book was really well written and I liked so many of the people in it.

I gave this book 4 1/2 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for my bound manuscript.

Have you read this?  Is it on your TBR?