Where the Forest Meets the Stars Paperback – Unabridged, March 1, 2019

A Favorite Quote: “Thunder growled. Rain clawed at the window. Joe held Ursa in her safe nest, and all the while fate sat watching.”Self-written Blurb: Two strangers who have both handled grief and trauma in completely different ways, must navigate through their colliding worlds to help a little girl through her own trauma. Jo is just trying to get her bird research done. Gabe is just stuck in a daily repetitive routine. Ursa is an alien living in an 8 year old’s body and was sent to Earth to witness 5 miracles. Faced with the impossible situation of trying to do the right thing by Ursa, Jo and Gabe wade their way through tough decision after tough decision. Who is Ursa, if not a lost and trauma ridden child? And what 5 miracles could send these three on an, at best, nontraditional and at worst, unethical journey? Perhaps love is the best miracle of all.What I enjoyed: Glendy Vanderah is a masterful storyteller. This book has the perfect blend of humor, heartache, mystery and life lessons. Ursa immediately captured my heart. The way I could relate to both Jo and Gabe was enigmatical. The author does a splendid job at making you feel as if you are right there with Jo, Gabe and Ursa. Told completely in the third person, this story has everything you want in literary fiction. It highlights how everyone handles grief and trauma differently but most importantly that sometimes friendship and a found family can give you the greatest power of healing. Such a heart-warming story that will likely stay with me through the years.Any struggles?: I didn’t have any struggles with this book.Will I recommend and to who: To everyone. To absolutely everyone. If you have triggers with thoughts surrounding child abuse though, I would recommend to proceed with caution.

The first third of the book was good. The treatment of depression is wrong. It is not something you just get over.

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.

Great read. At first I was just interested in book based on title and how it would play out. Fast read, great twists and enjoyed it right to the end. Excellent book ---recommend. WE have a book club meeting soon and I chose this book--will give it high marks and hope more read this book.

An engaging, heartwarming story. Ursa is a character you won’t easily forget, and Jo has the strength and integrity to carry the story along. Hard to put down toward the end.

Couple things… the “Jo said, Gabe said, Ursa said” in the dialogue of this book drive me insane. It was written from a narrator perspective and every conversation just annoyed me bc of the “ ‘name’ said” after every sentence.The end was rushed, I feel like it went from great to okay at the end (like so many other reviews say). The jump from absolutely not to okay fine in the foster family situation happened basically without the reader even knowing.. it was very confusing.The downplay on mental illness and depression was rough, I get the premise for the story line but damn, red flags all around for that relationship.

In the beginning I thought this book was a bit strange but as I read I was pulled in. A child’s cry for help, a cancer survivor and a man closed off to the world. A puppy with love and loyalty. An unlikely partnership slowly created around nature and the stars. The characters were all fleshed out and the story though remarkable could have been true. I mean wasn’t the purple people eater?

The perfect book for the beach, porch, and heart -- I was hooked at page 12 and couldn't put it down till page 321. What a wonderful book this is! If the reader likes All The Light We Cannot See, This Tender Land, and Before We Were Yours, they will love this beautifully written story about trust, love, and intertwined lives. Congratulations to a wonderful writer, Glendy Vanderah! George Manning