Where the Forest Meets the Stars

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.

This book was an easy, entertaining read. Characters were very engaging and relatable. Look forward to reading her next book.

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.

If You’re looking for a good light read - with a great ending then this is the one!To snatch a quote from the book itself: “it was that magical”

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

I really liked how this book started—it pulled me in right away with a unique story and interesting characters. I loved that it was clean but still intriguing, and I was honestly hooked for most of it.But the last quarter really lost me. It started to feel like the author had an agenda—very anti-law enforcement and anti-justice system. There were also some random comments about being anti-gun and little jabs at political beliefs that made it seem like being conservative was a bad thing. It just didn’t feel necessary and took away from the story for me.No matter what your personal views are, stuff like that doesn’t belong in a book like this. It distracted from the heart of the story and made the ending fall flat. I think it could have been a lot better without all that.

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.

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?