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It’s Christmastime, 1919. Three years before, 17-year-old Margot, a respectable vicar’s daughter, fell passionately in love. She lost her fiance, Harry, to war. In turn, she gained a secret, one with the power to ruin her future and her family’s reputation. A secret they guard at all costs … except, this year, everything has changed.
Margot’s family has gathered at the vicarage for the first time since the war ended. And Harry, it turns out, isn’t dead. He’s coming home, and he’s looking for answers.
The Silent Stars Go By is a quiet story that packs an emotional punch. It’s heartwarming, but also bittersweet, revealing a young woman’s coming of age during the traumas of wartime. The story is revealed in snapshot diary entries as Margot reminiscences on the past; struggles to face the consequences of her brash actions, bridge the rift it has caused in her family, and face the prolonged bitter shame of her secret.
Overall, The Silent Stars Go By is a thoughtful, touching book with relatable characters who face modern issues even though it’s set over a century ago. The story also touches on topics of PTSD, loss, grief and religious trauma. With all of this set against a holiday backdrop of Christmas and New Year, its themes of forgiveness, rebirth, and renewed hope for the future seem all the more poignant.
Reference: Moderate. Profanity includes 1 use of strong language, 16 uses of mild language, 3 uses of British (bl-) profanity, and 8 uses of the name of Deity. Sexual content includes a closed-door scene. A couple lies about their marriage status to spend the night in a hotel together. A child is born out of wedlock. Other content includes a character drinking to cope with his post-traumatic stress syndrome. References are made to war, death, and injury.
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