Where the Forest Meets the Stars - Goodreads

Set in a rural forest town filled with nature, mystery, tears, romance, and even a bit of suspense, Where the Forest Meets the Stars will capture you body and ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“WheretheForestMeetstheStars”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof WheretheForestMeetstheStarsbyGlendyVanderah. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—WheretheForestMeetstheStars byGlendyVanderah WheretheForestMeetstheStars by GlendyVanderah(GoodreadsAuthor) 4.12  ·  Ratingdetails ·  146,851 ratings  ·  12,276 reviews Afterthelossofhermotherandherownbattlewithbreastcancer,JoannaTealereturnstohergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois,determinedtoprovethatherrecenthardshipshavenotbrokenher.Shethrowsherselfintoherworkfromdusktodawn,untilhersolitaryroutineisdisruptedbytheappearanceofamysteriouschildwhoshowsupathercabin Afterthelossofhermotherandherownbattlewithbreastcancer,JoannaTealereturnstohergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois,determinedtoprovethatherrecenthardshipshavenotbrokenher.Shethrowsherselfintoherworkfromdusktodawn,untilhersolitaryroutineisdisruptedbytheappearanceofamysteriouschildwhoshowsupathercabinbarefootandcoveredinbruises.ThegirlcallsherselfUrsa,andsheclaimstohavebeensentfromthestarstowitnessfivemiracles.Withconcernsaboutthechild’shomesituation,Joreluctantlyagreestoletherstay—justuntilshelearnsmoreaboutUrsa’spast.Joenliststhehelpofherreclusiveneighbor,GabrielNash,tosolvethemysteryofthecharmingchild.Butthemoretimetheyspendtogether,themorequestionstheyhave.HowdoesayounggirlnotonlyreadbutunderstandShakespeare?Whydogoodthingskeephappeninginherpresence?Andwhyaren’tJoandGabecheckingthemissingchildren’swebsiteanymore?Thoughthethreehaveformedanincrediblebond,theyknowdifficultchoicesmustbemade.AsthesummernearsanendandUrsagetsclosertoherfifthmiracle,herdangerouspastclosesin.Whenitfinallycatchesuptothem,alloftheirpainfulsecretswillbeforcedintotheopen,andtheirfateswillbelefttothestars.Inthisgorgeouslystunningdebut,amysteriouschildteachestwostrangershowtoloveandtrustagain. ...more GetACopy KindleUnlimited $0.00 AmazonStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Orbuyfor $4.99 Hardcover,332pages Published March1st2019 byLakeUnionPublishing MoreDetails... OriginalTitle WheretheForestMeetstheStars ISBN 154204006X (ISBN13:9781542040068) LiteraryAwards GoodreadsChoiceAwardNomineeforFiction(2019) OtherEditions(35) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout WheretheForestMeetstheStars, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions So,isUrsaanalienormagicalbeing?Iow,couldthisbegivenSForfantasyforoneofitstags?(Maybeyouranswershouldbehiddenasaspoiler....)TIA! like 2yearsago Seeall9answers Matt Thisanswercontainsspoilers… (viewspoiler)[ Itfeelslikeshewasintentionallyleftopen-endedforustokeepthinkingabout.Thegoodthingsshesaidshemadehappenwerenoteverreally"expl…more Itfeelslikeshewasintentionallyleftopen-endedforustokeepthinkingabout.Thegoodthingsshesaidshemadehappenwerenoteverreally"explainedaway,"soIthinkthebookwassupposedtoendwithasenseofmagicaboutthechildandwhatshe'sdoneforeveryone.(less) (hidespoiler)] flag Thisisn'treallycategorizedyet,butwoulditbeconsideredmagicalrealism?Ormorefantasy? 4likes · like 2yearsago Seeall12answers EmilyWeisenburger No.Contemporaryfiction. flag Seeall45questionsaboutWheretheForestMeetstheStars… ListswithThisBook TopBooksforKindleUnlimited 1,952books — 1,410voters WonderfulKindleUnlimitedFiction 1,900books — 724voters Morelistswiththisbook... CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 4.12  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  146,851 ratings  ·  12,276 reviews AllLanguagesAfrikaans‎(1) BahasaIndonesia‎(2) Deutsch‎(1) Eesti‎(16) English‎(11837) Español‎(68) Italiano‎(9) Latviešuvaloda‎(3) Lietuviųkalba‎(22) Nederlands‎(2) Norsk‎(2) Polski‎(2) Português‎(11) Română‎(14) Slovenčina‎(8) Slovenščina‎(1) TiếngViệt‎(20) hrvatski‎(6) українська‎(1) فارسی‎(8) ไทย‎(1) 中文‎(2) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofWheretheForestMeetstheStarsWriteareview Mar10,2019 NiluferOzmekik ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: can-t-wait-to-read IthinksofarthisisoneofthebestbookI’vereadon2019.It’ssoemotional,heartwarming,poignant,amazingstoryofthreepeoplewhotrytolivewiththehandlife’sdealtthem.Jo,inaremissionfromcancer,Gabe,fightingwithhisdepressionandalittlegirlUrsawhodefinesherselfasanalienbringsthemtogetherandsealtheirfates.Thestoryisaboutlivingnotonlysurviving,stayingstrongandseeingtheworthinessofyourownlife.Trioissurprisingcombinationwhocomplete IthinksofarthisisoneofthebestbookI’vereadon2019.It’ssoemotional,heartwarming,poignant,amazingstoryofthreepeoplewhotrytolivewiththehandlife’sdealtthem.Jo,inaremissionfromcancer,Gabe,fightingwithhisdepressionandalittlegirlUrsawhodefinesherselfasanalienbringsthemtogetherandsealtheirfates.Thestoryisaboutlivingnotonlysurviving,stayingstrongandseeingtheworthinessofyourownlife.Trioissurprisingcombinationwhocompletewhichother.Jo,realistic,fighter,UrsaispositivedreamerandGabeiswounded,exhausted,brokenbutnottarnishedkindofhero.It’sperfectlywrittenbookgivesyouhope,joyandpositivelookintoyourself.IthinkthisisafantasticdebutnovelandIcannotwaittoreadthenewbooksofthewritersooner.bloginstagramfacebooktwitter ...more flag 725likes · Like  · seereview Viewall34comments Mar04,2019 LarryH ratedit itwasamazing Therearebooksyoureadthatyouenjoy,therearebooksthatyoulove,andthentherearethebooksyouholdinyourheart.HavingjustfinishedGlendyVanderah'sstunninglybeautifuldebutnovel, WheretheForestMeetstheStars ,Iknowitwillbeonetocherish.Whataspecialbookthiswas.JoannaTealeisanornithologistwhoisrecoveringfromadoubleblow:hermother'sdeathandherownbattlewithbreastcancer.Bearingphysicalandemotionalscars,shereturnstohergraduateresear Therearebooksyoureadthatyouenjoy,therearebooksthatyoulove,andthentherearethebooksyouholdinyourheart.HavingjustfinishedGlendyVanderah'sstunninglybeautifuldebutnovel, WheretheForestMeetstheStars ,Iknowitwillbeonetocherish.Whataspecialbookthiswas.JoannaTealeisanornithologistwhoisrecoveringfromadoubleblow:hermother'sdeathandherownbattlewithbreastcancer.Bearingphysicalandemotionalscars,shereturnstohergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinaruralIllinoistown.Sheinteractswithveryfewpeople—onlythemanfromdowntheroadwhosellseggs,andthosesheencountersonhertripstothelaundromatwhentherainkeepsherfromherfieldwork.Onenighthersolitudeisbrokenbytheappearanceofabarefootyounggirldressedindirtyclothes,whohasbruisesonherbody.ThegirlclaimstobeanalienfromthedistantplanetHetrayeh,andshecallsherselfUrsaMajor.Shesaysthatsheisonherowntypeofgraduatestudy,andcanreturntohomeonlyaftershewitnessesfivemiracles.(It'suptohertodeterminewhatconstitutesamiracle.)JoisworriedaboutwhatkindofafamilysituationUrsahasleft,andeventhoughsheisconcernedaboutherbruises,sheknowstherightthingistoreturnUrsatowherever—andwhomever—sheescapedfrom.ButUrsastickstoherstoryaboutbeinganalien,andwhenJocallsthesherifftoreportUrsa'sappearance,sherunsaway.Andwhenthesheriff'sdeputydoesn'tprovehelpfulanyway,JoletsUrsastaywithher—temporarily—untilshefiguresoutwhattodonext.Asthedayspass,JobeginstorelymoreandmoreonGabriel,hernext-doorneighborandthe"eggman,"tohelpherfigureoutwhattodowithUrsa,sincethechildhasbecomeattachedtohimaswell.Gabrielhashisowntraumastodealwith,includingsocialanxietyandahostoffamily-relatedissues,butthetwocan'thelpbutbedrawntooneanother.Inherently,however,theyknowthatarelationshipbetweenthemcan'twork,giventhefactthatJowillreturntohergraduatestudiesinthefall,andtheyalsoknowthattheyneedtocontactthepolice,soUrsacanbereturnedtoherfamilyoratleastplacedwithafosterfamily.Butwhyhasn'tUrsashownupinanymissing-childrenbulletins?Howcanthisyoungchildnotonlyread,butunderstandornithologytextsandShakespeare?Whywon'tshetellthemthetruthaboutwhereshereallycamefrom,andwhydoesshekeependangeringherselfbyrunningawayeverytimeJoandGabetrytogettothebottomofherfamilysituation?Therecan'tpossiblybeanytruthtothestoryshe'stellingthem,canthere?"GabestartedtoliveasUrsadid,inaninfinitepresentdisconnectedfromthepastorfuture.Jolethimhavehisfantasy.AndsheletUrsahavehers."Asthesummerdrawstoacloseandalloftheirlivesapproachacrossroads,onenightwillchangeeverything.Itwillputallofthemindangerandexposetheliesthey'vebeentellingthemselves,andthreatentodestroythefragiletriotheyhavebuilt,evenifit'sbuiltonadreamorafantasy.Fromtheveryfirstsentence,Iwashookedonthisstory.ItremindedmealittleofEowynIvey'sbeautifulnovel TheSnowChild ,inthatthepresenceofaseeminglymagicalchildtransformsthoseindesperateneedofrescue.But WheretheForestMeetstheStars hasitsownmagic,buoyedbyVanderah'smasterfulstorytelling,gorgeousimagery,andtheimmenseheartofthisbook.I'lladmitasIwasreadingthis,IvacillatedbetweenwantingtogettoUrsa's"realstory"andhopingthatshewasperhapstellingthetruth,despitethefactthatsucharesolutionmightrequiremetosuspendmydisbelief.Butatitscore, WheretheForestMeetstheStars isastoryaboutfriendship,love,bravery,andhowthefamilywechooseisoftenmoreimportanttousthanthefamilywebelongto,soIdecideditdidn'tmatterhowVanderahwrappedupherstory.WhenIsawthatthisbookwasoneofAmazon'sKindleFirstselectionslastmonth,Ireallywantedtoreadit,butcouldn'tfititin.However,Icouldn'twaitanylonger,andnearlyreadtheentirebookyesterdayduringacold,rainyday.Itwasoneofthosebooksyouwanttodevouryetsavor,andofcourse,IwassadwhenIfinishedit.ButIknowthesecharacterswillliveinmymindandmyheartforalongtimetocome.Seeallofmyreviewsatitseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.CheckoutmylistofthebestbooksIreadin2018athttps://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.YoucanfollowmeonInstagramathttps://www.instagram.com/yrralh/. ...more flag 416likes · Like  · seereview Viewall42comments Feb11,2019 Rachel ratedit itwasok ThiswasanamazonfirstreadselectionforFebruary'19.Ireadthroughitveryquickly--itisthatkindofbook(andItooka'read'daythispastweekendformyself).Ithinkthatthepremiseandthecharacterswereactuallyquiteuniqueandbuiltonasolidfoundation.Asaresearchwildlifebiologistmyself,IrelatedtoboththebiologistsideofJo,butalsotothecomplex,agoraphobicGabe...andtotheawkward,fumblingrelationshipdancetheyenduredwitheachother.Iwouldhavegive ThiswasanamazonfirstreadselectionforFebruary'19.Ireadthroughitveryquickly--itisthatkindofbook(andItooka'read'daythispastweekendformyself).Ithinkthatthepremiseandthecharacterswereactuallyquiteuniqueandbuiltonasolidfoundation.Asaresearchwildlifebiologistmyself,IrelatedtoboththebiologistsideofJo,butalsotothecomplex,agoraphobicGabe...andtotheawkward,fumblingrelationshipdancetheyenduredwitheachother.Iwouldhavegivenit3.5starsuptothatpoint.BUT...thebookfellcompletelyflatintheend.Somuchso,thatasIwasreadingthelast10%,IwaswonderingifIhadswitchedtoadifferentbookandadifferentauthor.Theendingwasdisorganized,fantastical(inabadway),andfeltsorushedinanefforttotieupallthelooseendsinjustafewpagesthatitleftmeabitdisoriented.SomuchsothatIhadtoreadthelastfewpagestwicetoevenunderstandwhatwasgoingon.Also,afterjustcomingoffareadinghighwith'WheretheCrawdadsSing'andhowwellthatauthortiedbiology/naturetothestory,thisbookreallydisappointedmeinthatregard.Infact,Iwassurprisedtolearnthattheauthorwasanendangeredbirdspecialist--thisfelttomelikesomeonewritingaboutfieldresearchthathadnotexperiencedit.Ithinktheauthormissedanopportunitytobringinthataspectmore.Finalnoteincaseitwillbehelpfultoothers.Ialmostwenttoa1-starreviewbecauseofhowthemaincharacter,Jo,handledGabe'smentalillness.Thisbookwasobviouslywrittenbysomeonewhohasnotexperienceddepression...JopushingGabetobecomfortableinacity,shavinghisbeardoff,andexpectinghimtojust'getoverit'wastriggeringtome.ThislackofunderstandingandempathyishowIamoftentreatedbyothersanditinfuriatedmetoread.'We'needtodoabetterjobatnotdismissingdepressionasan'excuse'forsomeoneto'hideintheirbed'.Itisamentalillness,notachoice. ...more flag 408likes · Like  · seereview Viewall53comments Jan19,2020 jessica ratedit reallylikedit whatanabsolutelydelightfulsurprisegemofastory.thisactuallyremindedmealotof ‘thegreatalone’ and ‘wherethecrawdadssing.’ thesestoriesareproofthatanappreciationfornatureandthecomfortitlendscanleadustothemostinsightfulandhumanofmoments.istronglybelievethatourenvironmentsplayacrucialroleinourdevelopmentaspeople,soireallyenjoyedreadingaboutursassearchformiraclesinthenewworldshefindsherselfin.withunhurriedwritingan whatanabsolutelydelightfulsurprisegemofastory.thisactuallyremindedmealotof ‘thegreatalone’ and ‘wherethecrawdadssing.’ thesestoriesareproofthatanappreciationfornatureandthecomfortitlendscanleadustothemostinsightfulandhumanofmoments.istronglybelievethatourenvironmentsplayacrucialroleinourdevelopmentaspeople,soireallyenjoyedreadingaboutursassearchformiraclesinthenewworldshefindsherselfin.withunhurriedwritingandtranquilpresence,thisisastorymeanttogentlyreachthegoodnessinallofourhearts.↠4stars ...more flag 247likes · Like  · seereview Viewall20comments Jul27,2020 Swaroop ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition “Sometimesbadthingshappentomakegoodthingshappen.”WhereTheForestMeetsTheStarshasbeenasimple,engagingandwonderfulread,andindeed"it'sbeenquitearide."ThisisthestoryofamysteriousandcharminggirlcalledUrsawhobringstwostrangers,JoannaTealeandGabrielNash,togetherandhelpthemtrusteachotherandfallinlove.BothJoandGabearehavingahurtfulpersonallifeandUrsa`performs`thesemiraclestohealthepainandscarsfromtheirpast,andthischanges “Sometimesbadthingshappentomakegoodthingshappen.”WhereTheForestMeetsTheStarshasbeenasimple,engagingandwonderfulread,andindeed"it'sbeenquitearide."ThisisthestoryofamysteriousandcharminggirlcalledUrsawhobringstwostrangers,JoannaTealeandGabrielNash,togetherandhelpthemtrusteachotherandfallinlove.BothJoandGabearehavingahurtfulpersonallifeandUrsa`performs`thesemiraclestohealthepainandscarsfromtheirpast,andthischangestheirlivesforbetter."Inaway,thosescarsbroughtustogether." ...more flag 207likes · Like  · seereview Viewall10comments Mar09,2019 luce ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: disappointing-reads, 2019-reviews, insufferable-protagonists, overdrive-ebooks, vi-not-for-me, skimmed ||blog|tumblr|ko-fi||IfIcouldjustratethefirst30%ofthisnovelIwouldhavegiventhis4stars.Sadly,Ifoundthedepictionofdepressionandsocialanxietytobelousyand,worsestill,Ithoughtthattheromanticrelationshipbetweenthetwoleadsis...worrisome.InitiallyIwasenjoyingthisstory.Inspiteofthemaincharacters'troubledpasts(Ursa,achildwhoshowssignsofabuse,claimsthatsheisanalienresearchinghumanbeings;JoisfinallyfinishingherPhDafter ||blog|tumblr|ko-fi||IfIcouldjustratethefirst30%ofthisnovelIwouldhavegiventhis4stars.Sadly,Ifoundthedepictionofdepressionandsocialanxietytobelousyand,worsestill,Ithoughtthattheromanticrelationshipbetweenthetwoleadsis...worrisome.InitiallyIwasenjoyingthisstory.Inspiteofthemaincharacters'troubledpasts(Ursa,achildwhoshowssignsofabuse,claimsthatsheisanalienresearchinghumanbeings;JoisfinallyfinishingherPhDafterthedeathofhermotherandhavingsurvivedherownbreastcancer—fromwhichsheisstillemotionallyandphysicallyrecovering;andGabriel,ayoungmanwhosellseggsbythesideoftheroad)thestoryseemedlight-hearted.JoandGabrielbegintogettoknoweachotherthankstoUrsa,togethertheyeatmarshmallows,watchbirds,goforaswim.IsortofunderstoodwhyJoandGabrieldidn'tdragUrsatothepolice.Theyworriedthatshewouldrunaway,orworseendupbackinapotentiallyabusivehome.TheydocheckmissingchildrenwebsitesandearlyonJodoesendupcallingthepolice.Ididn'tmindthattheywerebeingsomewhatirrational...Ithoughtthisisafluffy,feel-goodread,whywouldIwantthingstobetoorealistic?FormethingschangedwhenthestorybegunfocusingontheromancebetweenJoandGabriel.Johadinitiallydismissedhimas'eggman',butsoontheyrealisethattheyhavealotincommon.WhatbotheredmeisthatJoseemssuddenlyinterestedinGabriel.Onthebasisofthisnew'interest'shefeelsthatshecanpushherwayintohisprivatelife.Afterhetellsherthathesuffersfromsocialanxietyanddepressionsheforceshimto'getoutofhisshell'.Shepestershim,believingthatsomeonecanjust'snapout'ofdepression,tellshismotheroftheirrelationship(doesonekissinstitutearelationship?)whenheclearlywasnotcomfortablewithherdoingso(shepushespasthim,goesintohouse,andreachesoutforGabeinfrontofhismother:“captur[ing]himaroundthewaistbeforehegotaway”),whenheadmitsthathehasneverbeenkissed,ratherthangivinghimtime,shekisseshim:“Hisbodywasradiatingheat—andmaybefear.Herecoiledalittlewhensheputherpalmshischest.”Gabrieldoesn'tlikethewayhisfaceremindshimofhisfatherandJothinksthatshecan'snaphimout'ofhisanxietyandself-consciousnessbyshavinghisbeardwhenheclearlytellsherhewantstokeepit.Shecoaxeshimbysayingthatsheloves“aclean-shavenface'andbybringinginUrsa,askingher“Don'tyouthinkhe'dlookhandsome?”.Whenhesaysthat“nope”,“no”,and“Idon'twanttoseehisfaceeveryday!”Joignoreshiswishes,kisseshimandasks:“Don'tyouwanttobeirresistibletome?”They'veknowneachotherforwhat,twoweeks?Thedayaftertheirfirstkissandbang!Jowaltzesintohisprivatelife,dismissinghistrauma,hisboundariesandhismentalhealth,.Becauseshehassurvivedcancershethinksthatsheunderstandsallillnessesandtraumas.Thestory,ratherthanshowinghowharmfulandemotionalmanipulativeJoisbeingitshowsusthatitworks!Gabeiscured!Apparentlytruelovecuresdepression.Whoknew.IfJowasamanandGabewasawomanthisrelationshipreaderswouldfindthatitisunhealthy,andthatJo'sbehaviourfringedonbeingemotionallymanipulative.ButJoiswomansothewayshetreatsGabeis'okay'.IwassoangryatJothatIbecamedisconnectedfromthenarrative.Ursaseemslargelyforgotten,relinquishedtothesidelines,andisonlygivenafewsilly/cutelines.Whenthetruthbehindheridentityisrevealeditseemedoverthetop.Theendingwaslaughablyneat. ...more flag 205likes · Like  · seereview Viewall22comments Sep21,2020 Danielle ratedit likedit Shelves: fab-book-club-books 2020F.A.B.Bookclubpick#I.❤️.F.A.B. flag 207likes · Like  · seereview Viewall10comments Mar11,2019 Jennifer~TarHeelReader ratedit itwasamazing There’sareason(ortwoorthree)whyWheretheForestMeetstheStarsisanAmazonbestseller.It’sspecial!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Sospecial,infact,I’munlikelytoforgetthisstoryoritscharacters.Joannahashadhershareoftraumaandgrief.Asabreastcancersurvivorstillgrievingthelossofhermother,shegoesbacktograduateschooltostudybirds(thisinandofitselfwasfascinating,andafuntidbit-theauthorhadthissameprofession).Joannahasbecomeaworkaholiclivingaso There’sareason(ortwoorthree)whyWheretheForestMeetstheStarsisanAmazonbestseller.It’sspecial!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Sospecial,infact,I’munlikelytoforgetthisstoryoritscharacters.Joannahashadhershareoftraumaandgrief.Asabreastcancersurvivorstillgrievingthelossofhermother,shegoesbacktograduateschooltostudybirds(thisinandofitselfwasfascinating,andafuntidbit-theauthorhadthissameprofession).Joannahasbecomeaworkaholiclivingasolitarylifeconsumedbyherstudies.Until,oneday,Ursa,showsupatJoanna’srental.Ursaisayounggirl,abitquirky,whodoesn’tseemtohaveahome.ShetellsJoannashe’sbeensentfromthestarstowitnessfivemiracles.Joannaistoopracticaltobuythisstoryandinsiststhatthegirlgohome…Untilthegirlfinallyconvincesherethereisnohome.Joannathinkseventuallyshe’llfindoutmoresoshecanhelpUrsa…Joasksherneighbor,Gabriel,forhelp–tofindoutwhoUrsais,whereshe’sfrom.ThemoretheylearnaboutUrsa,themoreconfusedtheyare.Theinconsistenciesinherknowledgemakenosense.She’sachildwell-versedinShakespeare?(Amongotherconundrums).Thethreebecomethebestoffriendsasthesummerisclosetoending.Ursahasfoundherfourthmiracle,andthefifthcouldhappenatanytime.There’sasynergybuildingwhenalloftheirpastsareexposed.Whatwillthefuturebelikeforthesethreelovablecharacters?WhileIguessWheretheForestMeetstheStarshasaparanormalorfantasyaspect,itdoesn’tfeelthatway.Thestoryisgroundedfirmlyinthehereandnow,andUrsahasamagicalpowerthatcanbeonlydescribedaslove.Pure,unadulterated,innocentlove.Themiraclesshewitnessesaretrulybeautiful(experiencingthemthroughhereyesmeltedmyheart),butthebeautyinUrsaisallthelovesheexudestothosearoundherandtheeffectshehasonthemasaresult.Ohmygoodness,Ursa!Yousimplyhavetomeether.WheretheForestMeetstheStarsisastoryoffriendshipandthepowerofhealingthroughfriends.Thewritingisstraightforward,notaspareword,easy-to-read,andsofullofheart,allyouareleftwithishopeintheend,andwhodoesn’twanttobeleftwiththat?Ireceivedacomplimentarycopy.Allopinionsaremyown.Myreviewscanalsobefoundonmyblog:www.jennifertarheelreader.com ...more flag 204likes · Like  · seereview Viewall33comments Jan24,2021 Dorie-Cats&Books:) ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: buddy-read, literature I’vebeenwantingtoreadthisnovelforawhileandthiswasperfecttiming!Thisbookwaslikeabalmformypandemicfrazzlednerves!30pagesintothisnovelandIknewIwasinthehandsofamasterstoryteller.I’mamazedthatthiswasadebutnovel,everythingwasrightaboutthisbook!Theplotwasunique,thesettingwasbeautifulandwelldescribed,andthecharactersmademebothlaughandcry.Ireallydon’twanttoletthemgo,theyarethatspecial!!JoannaTealeisagraduatestuden I’vebeenwantingtoreadthisnovelforawhileandthiswasperfecttiming!Thisbookwaslikeabalmformypandemicfrazzlednerves!30pagesintothisnovelandIknewIwasinthehandsofamasterstoryteller.I’mamazedthatthiswasadebutnovel,everythingwasrightaboutthisbook!Theplotwasunique,thesettingwasbeautifulandwelldescribed,andthecharactersmademebothlaughandcry.Ireallydon’twanttoletthemgo,theyarethatspecial!!JoannaTealeisagraduatestudentworkingonherdoctorateinBiology.ShehassettledforthesummerinthebeautifulwoodlandsandstreamsofruralIllinois.Sheisstudyingthenestinghabitsandsuccessorfailofthelocalbirdsnestinghabits,journalingtheirmovementsextensively.Sheisonlyafewweeksintorentinghersmallhomewhenagirlofaboutnineappearsatduskfromthewoods.Sheisbarefoot,dirtyandclothedinonlypajamas.NomatterhowmanytimesJoequestionsher,sheinsiststhatshe’sfromaplanetfarawayandhascomedowntowitnessfivemiracles.OnlythenwillshereturntothePinwheelGalaxy.Joisasolitarywomanwhoisdealingwithadoubledoseofgriefafterlosinghermotherandbeingdiagnosedwithbreastcancer.Sheknowsthatsheshouldcallthepoliceandgettheminvolvedbuteverytimesheattemptsthisthelittlegirl,nowcalledUrsa,runsaway.Jogetstoknowherneighbor,Gabriel,andUrsamanagestocharmherwayintobothoftheirhearts.Gabehashisownscars,nonethatyoucansee,butlotsthathehasbeendealingwithformanyyears.Hehadafracturedfamilylifeandmanyemotionalissuestodealwithincludingdepressionandtheinabilitytointeractwithortrustothers.Despitetheirdifferences,JoandGabearedrawntoeachotherandwewatchastheybothlearntotrustagainandhavehope.ForalargepartofthebookwegettowatchasUrsaabsolutelybloomsinhernaturalworld.ShefollowsJoeonhertrackingofthebirds’nests,splashesandswimsinthecreekandisalwaysreadytolearnandhelp.Herabilitytoabsorbnewinformationisastounding.ShegoestoGabe’spropertywhenJolosesherpatiencewithherinsistencethatsheisanalien.HekeepscowsandchickensandthemostexcitingforUrsa,hiscathasjusthadkittens!WeknowthatsomethingwillhappentorevealUrsa’sstorybutitismuchmoretragicandterrifyingthancouldbeimagined!UrsarefuseshelpfromeveryoneexceptJoandGabe.Theyhavefoundhertobeextremelysmartandresourceful.ShedrawsbeautifullyandreadsJo’scollegetextbooksandevenShakespearewithease!Theendingisextremelysatisfyingwithoutbeingunbelievable.IwassoenthralledinthestorythatIshutouteverythingelse.Ms.Vanderah’sproseflowssowellitiseasytolosetrackoftime.ThereareothercharacterswhoareintegraltoUrsa’sstoryandarealsowelldeveloped.Ican’twaittoreadhernewbook“TheLightThroughTheLeaves:anovel”whichissettopublishonApril1,2021.Ifyouhaven’treadthisbookIrecommenditwithalltheSTARS!!!!!Ifyouneedabreakfromtheworldaroundyou,readthisbook.Ifyouwanttobeimmersedinbeautifulstorytelling,readthisbook!“WhereTheForestMeetsTheStars”wasabeautifulandgratifyingreadingexperiencethatwillbehardtobeatwithanybookthatfollows.ThisisabuddyreadwithmygoodfriendMaryBethwhowillbestartingthisonesoon! ...more flag 180likes · Like  · seereview Viewall81comments Mar01,2019 Mackey ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: fiction-general, favorites, my-reviews, books-read-2019, women-s-fiction 4.5ormaybe10stars,Idon'tknow.Mymindisstillblown.Don'taskmeaboutstarsrightnow.Ohwow!IknowIshouldn’tbeginareviewwithOhWowbutIwassoblownawaywithWheretheForestMeetstheStarsthatithastakenafewdaystoputwordstomythoughts(andyouseehowwellthathasgone,right?)OhwowiswhatIhavecomeupwithsofar.JoannaTealeisanornithologistissafelytuckedawayinaresearcher’scabinonthemarshesofsouthernIllinoiswheresheiscompletingher 4.5ormaybe10stars,Idon'tknow.Mymindisstillblown.Don'taskmeaboutstarsrightnow.Ohwow!IknowIshouldn’tbeginareviewwithOhWowbutIwassoblownawaywithWheretheForestMeetstheStarsthatithastakenafewdaystoputwordstomythoughts(andyouseehowwellthathasgone,right?)OhwowiswhatIhavecomeupwithsofar.JoannaTealeisanornithologistissafelytuckedawayinaresearcher’scabinonthemarshesofsouthernIllinoiswheresheiscompletinghergraduatestudiesonnestingpractices.Itisherethatsheishealingherbodyandsoulafterabattlewithbreastcancer.NearbyisGabe,the“eggman,”wholivesonthefarmuptheroadandisbattlingdemonsofhisown.Intotheirlivesayounggirlwanders.ShecallsherselfUrsaandclaimstobeanalieninsearchoffivemiracles.ItisobvioustoJothatthegirlneedshelponmultiplelevels,butthegirlisbrilliantandcageyandeverytimethatJoattemptstoturnUrsaintothe“authorities”sheeludesthem,leavingJotocareforthegirluntilJocanunravelUrsa’ssecretsandfindoutherpast.Surelysheisn’treallyalien,isshe?AsJoandGabebegincaringforUrsa,theyfindthemselvesenvelopedinahealingprocessoftheirown.Buttherearesecretsyettobeuncoveredthatwillhavedevastatingeffectsonthemall.WheretheForestMeetstheStarsistrulyamagicaltale.Inthebeginningyouwonderif,infact,itisgoingtofallintotherealmofparanormal.Soon,however,yourealizethatthemagicandwonderthatUrsapossessesisn’tfantasybutratherthewondermentofloveandthatlove;true,unselfish,altruisticlove,hasahealing,restorativeeffectonthosewithwhomUrsacomesincontact.ThemiraclesthatUrsaseeks,babybirdsinanestornewkittensbeingborn,paleincomparisontothemiraclesshebringstothelivesofthosearoundher.Thisisastoryofforgiveness,friendship,restorationand,mostimportantly,love.Itissimplybutpoignantlywritten,almostasaparable,andisoneIencourageyoualltoread. ...more flag 172likes · Like  · seereview Viewall18comments Mar27,2021 Farrah ratedit itwasamazing Whatawonderfulandunexpectedsurprise𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴turnedouttobe!IwasjustkindathrowingitatthewalltoseeifitwouldstickandIendedupinlovewiththisbook.𝙅𝙤,𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧.𝙂𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙅𝙤'𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙙𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣,𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 Whatawonderfulandunexpectedsurprise𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴turnedouttobe!IwasjustkindathrowingitatthewalltoseeifitwouldstickandIendedupinlovewiththisbook.𝙅𝙤,𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧.𝙂𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙅𝙤'𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙙𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣,𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙐𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙚'𝙨𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙚'𝙡𝙡𝙗𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙨𝙝𝙚'𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙨.Irealizethisbookwaspurposelywrittentotugonit'sreadersheartstringsandmanipulateanemotionalreactionandformeitworked.IlaughedandIcried.Ilovethemessagesitholdsaboutresilience,acceptanceandcompassion. ...more flag 165likes · Like  · seereview Viewall41comments Apr27,2019 Lauree ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Ok,IseealltheglowingreviewsandthinkthatmaybeIreadadifferentbook.MaybeAmazonsentthesuckyversiontomyKindle.Thewritingwasweak.Characterdevelopmentwasthin.Ifinisheditoutofspite.DONOTwasteyourtime. flag 157likes · Like  · seereview Viewall19comments Mar29,2019 ElyseWalters ratedit itwasamazing Itsnotahype!Icouldnotpullaway!!!Thisbookissooooooeasytolove!!!Thereisstorytelling...andthenthereisFRESH-ORIGINAL-DELICIOUS-MASTERFULLY-ENCHANTING-TOTALLYENDEARING-storytelling...ThisisoneofTHOSEbooksyouwanttoread!!!!!Goinblind!TRUSTalltheHighRatings!!!!Wonderful-wonderful-wonderful!!!!!!🥰 flag 153likes · Like  · seereview Viewall18comments May08,2019 KAS ratedit itwasamazing UniqueInSoManyWays!!Asaself-professedcontemporaryromancejunkie,thisreadisoutsidemyusualgenre,whichIhavebeenfindingmyselfmoreandmore.CaptivatingisdefinitelyoneadjectiveIwoulduse,aswellasunexpectedandsoveryspecial.Itwasan‘outofthisworld’experiencetolistentothisextraordinarystory.Whilethereisabitofromanceinvolved,itismoreabouthope,friendshipandmiracles.Thereisareasonyouwillseefivestarafterfivestarreviews.Itisgorgeo UniqueInSoManyWays!!Asaself-professedcontemporaryromancejunkie,thisreadisoutsidemyusualgenre,whichIhavebeenfindingmyselfmoreandmore.CaptivatingisdefinitelyoneadjectiveIwoulduse,aswellasunexpectedandsoveryspecial.Itwasan‘outofthisworld’experiencetolistentothisextraordinarystory.Whilethereisabitofromanceinvolved,itismoreabouthope,friendshipandmiracles.Thereisareasonyouwillseefivestarafterfivestarreviews.Itisgorgeouslywritten.Imaybewrong,butIthinkthisisMs.Vanderah’sdebutnovel,whichisquiteamazinginitself. ...more flag 131likes · Like  · seereview Viewall81comments Apr22,2019 HollyB ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: had-to-finish, 2019-favorites-shelf, enjoyed-the-characters, read-in-2019 Gorgeousstorytellingandstrong,relatablecharactersmadethisabooktotreasure.Youwon'twanttomissthisone. ThisgemhaseverythingIloveinastory.IwashookedfromtheverybeginningandmycuriosityonlygrewstrongerasthemysteryofthelittlegirlnamedUrsawandereduptoJo'scabin.Ursahasastorytotelland  whatastoryitis!  Wheredidshecomefrom?Wherearehershoes?Whyissheinsistingshewassenttowitnessfivemiracles?Theauthorweavestheplotinana Gorgeousstorytellingandstrong,relatablecharactersmadethisabooktotreasure.Youwon'twanttomissthisone. ThisgemhaseverythingIloveinastory.IwashookedfromtheverybeginningandmycuriosityonlygrewstrongerasthemysteryofthelittlegirlnamedUrsawandereduptoJo'scabin.Ursahasastorytotelland  whatastoryitis!  Wheredidshecomefrom?Wherearehershoes?Whyissheinsistingshewassenttowitnessfivemiracles?Theauthorweavestheplotinanallabsorbingwaythatbringsoutthepoweroflove,healingandtruemiracles.IwassoinvestedinthecharactersandtheirlivesthatIwasholdingmybreathduringsomeoftheheart-poundingandtensionfilledchapters.HighlyrecommendthatyougettoknowUrsaandherstory! Unforgettableinthebestway! AlltheLOVE.ThiswasanAudiblelistenformeandIhavepurchasedmyveryownfinishedcopy. ...more flag 132likes · Like  · seereview Viewall46comments Aug02,2021 MarilynW ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: audio, amazon-first-reads WheretheForestMeetstheStarsbyGlendyVanderah(Author),LaurenEzzo(Narrator)ThismaybeatimewhenIwouldhaveenjoyedthebookbetterifIhadn'tlistenedtotheaudiobook.IfeellikeIneedtoattendarockconcertforseveralhourssothatIcangettheshrillwhinesandyellingofJoannaandUrsaoutofmyhead.Beingsoannoyedbylisteningtothemmadememorecriticalofotherthings,Ithink,suchashowoftentherewouldbelongstringsofshortdialogue,endingwith"hesaid WheretheForestMeetstheStarsbyGlendyVanderah(Author),LaurenEzzo(Narrator)ThismaybeatimewhenIwouldhaveenjoyedthebookbetterifIhadn'tlistenedtotheaudiobook.IfeellikeIneedtoattendarockconcertforseveralhourssothatIcangettheshrillwhinesandyellingofJoannaandUrsaoutofmyhead.Beingsoannoyedbylisteningtothemmadememorecriticalofotherthings,Ithink,suchashowoftentherewouldbelongstringsofshortdialogue,endingwith"hesaid","shesaid","hesaid","shesaid",overandover.JoannaTeale,agradstudentandcancersurvivor,isspendingthesummerdoingornithologyresearchnexttothepropertyofGabe,whosuffersfromseveralmentalissues.IntoJo'slife(andthenGabe'slife),comesagirlwhoismostlikelyarunaway.Joseesobviousbruisesonherincludingonethatlookslikesomeonegrabbedheraroundtheneck.Thegirlclaimstobeanalien,whoisinhabitingthebodyofadeadgirlandhernameisUrsa.UrsasuperdupersmartandJoandGabewillkeepremindingushowsmartsheisandthattryingtogetherofficialhelpisnexttoimpossiblebecauseshe'ssoverysmart.Somostlytheyjusthangoutwiththislittlegirl,forseveralweeks,despitethefactthatJowillbegoingbacktohercollegethenextmonthandeitherleavingthegirlwheresheisortakingherwithher,whichwillbeevenmoreillegalthanharboringandendangeringthelifeofaminor.IwishIcouldhavejustturnedoffmymindforthisoneandcouldhaveenjoyedthemagicmore,insteadofcomingupwithwaytoomanyobjectionstotheactionsofJo(andGabe,butIfeellikehisavictiminsomeways).Restassured,intheend,lotsofthingsgetfixedupjustfine,includingforpeopleonthesidelinesthatseemtobecaughtinthemagicofthestory.ThisisaKindleUnlimitedaudioselection. ...more flag 130likes · Like  · seereview Viewall50comments Apr28,2019 Christine ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: 2019_read Thebigmysteryhereisthe4+ratingforthisbook.Childappearsoutofnowhereclaimingtobeanalien...thebookhadagoodstartbutslowlydevolvedintomelodramaticaffair.Thekidturnsintoawhinybrat,Gabe'sissuesareresolvedinanexpedientmanner(yearsofabuse,depression,andmildagoraphobiavanishinlove'swake?...notbelievable),andthesamewithourprotagonist'sissues.Everyone'sissuessimplyfellaway.Everythingwrapsupandworksoutperfectlyforeveryone-in Thebigmysteryhereisthe4+ratingforthisbook.Childappearsoutofnowhereclaimingtobeanalien...thebookhadagoodstartbutslowlydevolvedintomelodramaticaffair.Thekidturnsintoawhinybrat,Gabe'sissuesareresolvedinanexpedientmanner(yearsofabuse,depression,andmildagoraphobiavanishinlove'swake?...notbelievable),andthesamewithourprotagonist'sissues.Everyone'sissuessimplyfellaway.Everythingwrapsupandworksoutperfectlyforeveryone-inotherwords,unrealistic.Itwaspartsoapoperaandpartfairytale.Notmykindofbook.Forme,thiswasnotagoodread. ...more flag 105likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Mar27,2019 BeritTalksBooks ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: 2019, blog-tour Astunningstorythatwilltugatyourheartstrings,ataleburstingwithloveandsprinkledwithmagic! IabsolutelyLovedeverysinglewordinthisbeautifulbook!Amagicaltaleaboutaremarkablegirlwhobroughthopetomany.BRAVOGlendyVanderah!Thisisanexceptionalstorythatwillstickwithmeforalongtime.ThefactthatthisisadebutisasremarkableasUrsa.JoannaisanornithologistWhoisspendingthesummerinruralIllinois,studyingbirdsforherdoctorate.Sheissti Astunningstorythatwilltugatyourheartstrings,ataleburstingwithloveandsprinkledwithmagic! IabsolutelyLovedeverysinglewordinthisbeautifulbook!Amagicaltaleaboutaremarkablegirlwhobroughthopetomany.BRAVOGlendyVanderah!Thisisanexceptionalstorythatwillstickwithmeforalongtime.ThefactthatthisisadebutisasremarkableasUrsa.JoannaisanornithologistWhoisspendingthesummerinruralIllinois,studyingbirdsforherdoctorate.Sheisstillgrievinghermother’sdeathandrecuperatingfromherrecentfightwithbreastcancer.WhenUrsashowsupcoveredinbruisesandclaimingtobeanalienfromtheplanetHtraeJoannadoesn’tknowwhattodo.Worriedaboutthegirl’ssafetysheallowshertostaywithhertemporarily.JoannaalsomeetsGabrielherreclusiveneighbor,soonthetwoofthemareworkingtogethertotrytofigureoutwhattodoaboutUrsa.UrsaisaspeciallittlegirlandquicklywormsherwayintobothJoannaandGabe‘shearts,andbeforetheyknowittheyarenolongerlookingformissingchildrenreports.WillthemagicofUrsahealJoannaandGabe’shearts?UrsamighthaveonlybeennineyearsoldbutshewasoneofthemostextraordinarycharactersIhaveeverhadthepleasureofmeetinginabook.Alienorhuman,fromthestarsorfromtheearth,itdoesn’tmattershewasanamazingcharacter!Whethershehadspecialpowersornotshewasmagic!JoannaandGabeweren’ttoobadeither,Ireallylovedhowmuchtheylovedthislittlegirl.Ihadatremendousamountofsympathyforbothofthesecharacters,theyhadgonethroughsomeprettytoughtimesandIreallywantedthemtofindtheirwaytooneanotherandtohappiness.Thisbookwastrulyunique,abreathoffreshair!I’mafraidmywordscannotdoitjustice.Thisisanabsolutemustread,thekindofbookthatwillalwayshaveapieceofyourheart.***manythankstoLakeUnionformycopyofthisbook*** ...more flag 100likes · Like  · seereview Viewall21comments Jan26,2020 Kat ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: adventure, fiction, mystery, romance, psychology, relationships, trauma, parent-child-relationships, favorites, suspense ILOVEthisbook.It'sbeenawhilesinceI'vereadsomethingthatwassogenuinelyhumanandsoul-affirming.Themaincharacters-Jo,UrsaandGabe-aremessy,inthesensethattheyallcarrytheweightofsomekindofpersonaltraumawiththem,andactoutofitinwaysthatarebothbeneficialanddetrimentaldependingonthescenario.They'realsonotwithoutpersonalityflaws.That'stheverythingthatmakesmefeelinvestedineachofthem.Theirlifeexperiencesgivethemdeeperdimens ILOVEthisbook.It'sbeenawhilesinceI'vereadsomethingthatwassogenuinelyhumanandsoul-affirming.Themaincharacters-Jo,UrsaandGabe-aremessy,inthesensethattheyallcarrytheweightofsomekindofpersonaltraumawiththem,andactoutofitinwaysthatarebothbeneficialanddetrimentaldependingonthescenario.They'realsonotwithoutpersonalityflaws.That'stheverythingthatmakesmefeelinvestedineachofthem.Theirlifeexperiencesgivethemdeeperdimensionascharactersthantheywould'vehadifthey'dcomeoutofstable,predictablebackgrounds,andtheirpersonalitiesarereflectionsofwhatthey'vehadtousetosurvive.Becausetheyunderstandthefragilityoflife,eachintheirownway,theircommitmenttooneanotherandtheirgenuinebondfeelsallthemoresacred.Youknowthatthesecharactersunderstandeachotherinwaysthatmostpeopletheyencounterneverwill.Itcanbedifficulttoportraytraumaticlifeexperiencesinawaythatdoesn'tfeelheavy-handedandcloying,somajorkudostoMs.Vanderahhandlingsomeoftheseharshrealitieswithsensitivity,humorandcompassion.Alongwiththewell-writtenrelationshipaspectsofthebook,thesuggestionofpossibleout-of-this-worldfantasyisintriguing,pullingmealonginthequesttodiscoverthetruth,thoughitneverfeelsdetachedfromreality.It'slikealittlesprinkleoffairydust-justenoughtomakemyinnerchildkeepexploringtotheveryend.Eveninthelaterchapterswhenthingstakeadarkerturnforabit,itmanagestoneverlosethatmagicalthread,whichIwasthankfulfor.Throughout,there'sarichcastofsupportingcharacters,withTabbybeingaparticularfavoriteofmine,andhelpingtolightenthemoodatjusttherighttimes.I'mnotaterriblyfastreader-mainlybecauseIcanbesoeasilydistractedbyotherthingsgrabbingformyattention-butthisisoneofthoserarebooksformethatIjustdidn'twanttoputdown.Forme,therewerenodullspotstogetthrough-itkeptmeengagedstarttofinish.Awonderfulfirsteffortbythisauthor-I'mlookingforwardtoseeingwhat'snextfromher.Update1/25/21:HernextbookTheLightThroughtheLeaveswillbepublishedApril1,2021.Yay!★★★★★❤️ ...more flag 96likes · Like  · seereview Viewall38comments May03,2019 Susan'sReviews ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: current-favourites, all-my-favorites, id-read-anyything-by-this-author WheretheForestMeetstheStarsisdefinitelyquirky-somethingIalwaysenjoyinanovelwhenitisdoneright,andUrsapulledoffthequirkyelementperfectly!IsUrsareallyanextra-terrestrial?Rightupuntiltheveryend,youwillbeleftwondering!Thisnoveldealswithchildabuse,breastcancerandPTSD.Despitetheseheavythemes,thestoryisstillhopefulandup-beat.Allthreeofthemaincharactersmanagetosurvivetheirparticular"hellonearth".Threeverydamagedpeople(Jo, WheretheForestMeetstheStarsisdefinitelyquirky-somethingIalwaysenjoyinanovelwhenitisdoneright,andUrsapulledoffthequirkyelementperfectly!IsUrsareallyanextra-terrestrial?Rightupuntiltheveryend,youwillbeleftwondering!Thisnoveldealswithchildabuse,breastcancerandPTSD.Despitetheseheavythemes,thestoryisstillhopefulandup-beat.Allthreeofthemaincharactersmanagetosurvivetheirparticular"hellonearth".Threeverydamagedpeople(Jo,GabeandUrsa)cometogethertoformtheirownlittlefamilyandsupportgroup.Ofcourse,ChildServicesandthelegalauthoritiescan'tseetheiroddrelationshipinthesamepositiveway.Thiswasanunconventionallovestory,wherehopeandloveand"fivemiracles"triumphedovertheterribletraumaswhichhadaffectedJo,GabeandtheindomitableUrsa.Hardtobelievethatthiswastheauthor'sdebutnovel-welldone!Highlyrecommended! ...more flag 86likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Oct29,2021 AhmadSharabiani ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: fiction, 21th-century, mystery, magical-realism, romance, fantasy, adult, love, united-states WheretheForestMeetstheStars,GlendyVanderahAfterthelossofhermotherandherownbattlewithbreastcancer,JoannaTealereturnstohergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois,determinedtoprovethatherrecenthardshipshavenotbrokenher.Shethrowsherselfintoherworkfromdusktodawn,untilhersolitaryroutineisdisruptedbytheappearanceofamysteriouschildwhoshowsupathercabinbarefootandcoveredinbruises.ThegirlcallsherselfUrsa,andsheclaims WheretheForestMeetstheStars,GlendyVanderahAfterthelossofhermotherandherownbattlewithbreastcancer,JoannaTealereturnstohergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois,determinedtoprovethatherrecenthardshipshavenotbrokenher.Shethrowsherselfintoherworkfromdusktodawn,untilhersolitaryroutineisdisruptedbytheappearanceofamysteriouschildwhoshowsupathercabinbarefootandcoveredinbruises.ThegirlcallsherselfUrsa,andsheclaimstohavebeensentfromthestarstowitnessfivemiracles.Withconcernsaboutthechild'shomesituation,Joreluctantlyagreestoletherstay--justuntilshelearnsmoreaboutUrsa'spast.Joenliststhehelpofherreclusiveneighbor,GabrielNash,tosolvethemysteryofthecharmingchild.Butthemoretimetheyspendtogether,themorequestionstheyhave.HowdoesayounggirlnotonlyreadbutunderstandShakespeare?Whydogoodthingskeephappeninginherpresence?Andwhyaren'tJoandGabecheckingthemissingchildren'swebsiteanymore?Thoughthethreehaveformedanincrediblebond,theyknowdifficultchoicesmustbemade.AsthesummernearsanendandUrsagetsclosertoherfifthmiracle,herdangerouspastclosesin.Whenitfinallycatchesuptothem,alloftheirpainfulsecretswillbeforcedintotheopen,andtheirfateswillbelefttothestars.عنوانهایچاپشدهدرایران:«آنجاکهجنگلوستاره‌هابههممی‌رسند»؛«جاییکهستاره‌هاباجنگلدیدارمی‌کنند»؛نویسنده:گلندیوندرا؛تاریخنخستینخوانشروزبیستوهشتمماهفوریهسال2021میلادیعنوان:آنجاکهجنگلوستاره‌هابههممی‌رسند؛نویسنده:گلندیوندرا؛مترجم:عاطفهحاجی‌آقایی؛تهران،نشرسنگ،سال1399؛در396ص؛شابک9786229633649؛موضوعداستانهاینویسندگانایالاتمتحدهآمریکا-سده21معنوان:‏‫جاییکهستاره‌هاباجنگلدیدارمی‌کنند؛‏‫نویسنده:گلندیوندرا؛مترجم:میلادیساول؛ویراستار:مهدیاحشمه؛تهران،انتشاراتروزگار؛سال1399؛در417ص؛شابک9786222331290؛عنوان:آنجاکهجنگلوستاره‌هابههممی‌رسند؛نویسندهگلندیوندرا؛مترجمسیدرضاحسینی؛ویراستارحامدمنصوریان؛تهران،آموت،سال1399؛در443ص؛شابک9786003841505؛چاپدومسال1399؛داستانکودکیمرموزاستکهبهیکزنومردغریبهمی‌آموزد،چگونهدیگرانراباورکنندوبههمدیگرعشقبورزند؛کودکمرموزاینکتابازجهاتییادآور«شازدهکوچولویاگزوپری»است،اینباراوناگهانسرراهزنیکهبه‌تازگیباسرطاندستوپنجهنرمکرده،قرارمی‌گیرد،وآرامآرامدردلاوجایگاهیویژه‌می‌یابد؛ازسویدیگر،پسرکیجوانوکم‌تجربه‌نیزدرهمسایگیهمانزنزندگیمی‌کند،ودرگذزرویدادهایداستان،عشقیژرفدربینایندوزادهمی‌شود...؛نقلازمتن:(شایددخترکبچهپریانبود؛تاحدودینامرئیبود،صورتشرنگپریدهبودوسویی‌شرتوشلوارشدرجنگلتاریکوروشنپشتسرشمحوشدهبود؛پاهایشبرهنهبودند؛بی‌حرکتایستادهویکدستشرادورتنهٔدرختگردویگرمسیریآمریکاییحلقهکردهبود؛وقتیماشیندرانتهایراهشنیقرچوقروچصدادادوچندمترآنطرف‌ترایستاد،اصلاًازجایشتکاننخورد؛«جو»ماشینراخاموشکرد،نگاهشراازدخترگرفتودوربیندوچشمی،کوله‌پشتیوورقمشخصاتراازرویصندلیمسافربرداشت؛شایداگرنگاهشنمی‌کرد،بچهبهسرزمینپریانبرمی‌گشت؛اماوقتیازماشینپیادهشد،دخترکهنوزهمان‌جاایستادهبود؛روبهسایهٔدرختگردوگفت:«دارممی‌بینمت.»؛دخترکگفت:می‌دونم؛تکّهگِل‌هایخشکزیرپوتین‌هایکوه‌نوردی«جو»،رویمسیربتونیپخشوپلاشدند؛چیزیمی‌خوای؟دخترجوابیندادچراتواملاکمنی؟می‌خواستمتولهسگ‌تونرونازکنم،امانذاشت؛سگمننیستپسسگکیه؟هیچ‌کسجودربالکنشیشه‌ایرابازکردتاهنوزهواروشنهبایدبریخونه‌تونلامپکممصرفضدحشرهٔبیرونراروشنودرخانهرابازکرد؛بعدازروشنکردنلامپداخلخانه،بهسمتدرچوبیبرگشتوقفلشکرد؛دخترکدوروبرنهسالداشت،امابازهمممکنبودخطرناکباشد)؛پایانتاریخبهنگامرسانی08/08/1400هجریخورشیدی؛ا.شربیانی ...more flag 83likes · Like  · seereview Mar25,2019 Jennifer ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: cover-love, absolute-favorites, own-ebook-kindle, amazing-audio, tearjerker, read-2019, authors-first-novel-debut, own-audio-audible, listened-to-audiobook, own-paperbook Agirllostfromthestars.Awomanclaimingherselfafterillness.Amanburdenedbyhismindandfamily.Eachonediscoverslifeandloveinspiteoftheirindividualtrauma.Thesethreeareasvariedasthestarsbuttheirneedtomoveforwardwithlifeconnectstheminmemorableways.Setinaruralforesttownfilledwithnature,mystery,tears,romance,andevenabitofsuspense,WheretheForestMeetstheStarswillcaptureyoubodyandsoul.Thewritingislovelyandthestoryradiates Agirllostfromthestars.Awomanclaimingherselfafterillness.Amanburdenedbyhismindandfamily.Eachonediscoverslifeandloveinspiteoftheirindividualtrauma.Thesethreeareasvariedasthestarsbuttheirneedtomoveforwardwithlifeconnectstheminmemorableways.Setinaruralforesttownfilledwithnature,mystery,tears,romance,andevenabitofsuspense,WheretheForestMeetstheStarswillcaptureyoubodyandsoul.Thewritingislovelyandthestoryradiatesstarlightandmiracles. “HowlongwasIasleep?”“Aboutfifteendegreesofstarmovement.” ThisisGlendyVanderah'sdebutnovelandIfoundittobesuchanicesurprise.Iabsolutelylovedit.Seriously,checkitout.Myfavoritequote:“Asalways,wordsfailwhenyoumostwanttosaytherightthing.”“Peoplethinktheyhavetosaysomething,anditnevermakesmefeelbetter.”“Iknow.I’vedecidedlanguageisn’tasadvancedaswethinkitis.We’restillapestryingtoexpressourthoughtswithgruntswhilemostofwhatwewanttocommunicatestayslockedinourbrains.”AudiobooktalentlynarratedbyLaurenEzzo. ...more flag 82likes · Like  · seereview Viewall10comments Dec08,2019 Diana ratedit didnotlikeit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: maybe-i-m-being-an-asshole-but Igrabbedthisasankindlefirstread,andI'msorrytosaythatitwaskindoftrash.Worseyet,itdidn'tstartouttrash,soIunfortunatelywastedalotmoretimethanIwouldhavetryingtospeedreadtheend.Ihavenoideawhatbookeveryoneelseisreviewingwiththeirfivestars,andI'mmadaboutthat,too.Y'allneedhigherstandards,andyoucanfightmeonthat,ifyoulike.¯\_(ツ)_/¯Thepremiseisprettygreat,andtheexecutiontobeginwithisalrightifnotluminous;wehavea Igrabbedthisasankindlefirstread,andI'msorrytosaythatitwaskindoftrash.Worseyet,itdidn'tstartouttrash,soIunfortunatelywastedalotmoretimethanIwouldhavetryingtospeedreadtheend.Ihavenoideawhatbookeveryoneelseisreviewingwiththeirfivestars,andI'mmadaboutthat,too.Y'allneedhigherstandards,andyoucanfightmeonthat,ifyoulike.¯\_(ツ)_/¯Thepremiseisprettygreat,andtheexecutiontobeginwithisalrightifnotluminous;wehaveagradstudentwho'shadittotallyroughtryingtosortouthershit,waylaidbyalittlegirlthatshe'stryingherbesttohelp,andtheirinteractionisinteresting.Ididn'tlikeJofromthestart,though,mainlybecauseofhertotallackofgiveashitforthestraydogthatthegirlbefriends.Atsomepointintimelaterinthebook,heradvisor'slike,"ohjo,youhavesuchabigheart",andI'mlike,ohyeahno--askthedogaboutthat.TW:(viewspoiler)[Thedoggetsshotintheendthough,sohere'sanotherbigol'fuckoffforthat.(hidespoiler)]WethemeettheEggMan,Gabe,who'sadepressedhottiebackwoodsfarmer,butabrainiacindisguise;Tabby,Jo'sBFFwhoisanextrememanicpixiegirl,andvariousothercharactersthatareeitherextremelylikableorextremelyunlikeable;thereisnoin-between.Thedialogwaswobblyallthewaythrough,andthetreatmentofGabe'smentalillnessisagoddamnmess.Notgonnalie,IshouldhaveputitdownwhenJodismisseditandhewaslike,YOUARECORRECT,ALLINEEDEDWASTOGETOUTOFBEDANDGETSOMEFRESHAIR.THUMBSUPANDTHANKS,FRIENDOS!"But,damnably,IwasholdingoutforUrsa'srealstory,andoncetheendinghappened,IwassorryIdid.I'mnotsuretheauthordidanyresearchonthesubjectofmentalillness,orifshedid,ithappenedviainternet,andthere'sanessentialoilshucksterouttherethatconvincedherthatallyouneedtofeelbetteristoacknowledgeyourissueandjustgetouttherewhilesmellingofbergamot,sport.Gabegoesfromhavingdepression,anxietyandagoraphobiatojustbeinglikecoolcool,fullhospitalinacityIcan'tstand?noproblem,IcansithereinthelobbywithmyNEWGIRLFRIEND.NBD.Anddrugs?Nah,hedoesn'tneedthose,becausehedoesn'tneedthosechemicalsinhishead.(cuejuggernautgifhere);hissisterLaceygoesfromturbobitchwho'shatedandresentedhimallherlife*andtriedtolosehiminthewoodsonce*tosupercoololdersisterwhoadmitshermistakesandthinksofhimfondlybecauseGabemadethefamilytalkaboutTheBigSecretonce.ONCE.AndUrsa,(viewspoiler)[whoasitturnsoutisjustakidthatescapedattemptedsexualviolenceandmurderatthehandsofacoupleofcrackheadsthatkilledhermotheranddissassociated,getsshovedintotellingthetruththankstothefearofneverseeingJoorGabeagain,andthenislike,nah,I'mageniusintellectandthereforeIcanmind-over-matterthisshitoverthecourseofjustafewmonths.(hidespoiler)].MyeyesjustrolledsofarupIrediscoveredachildhoodmemory.Please.Ifyouareawriter,donotdothisshit.ThisisliterallyakintowritingastoryaboutaparaplegicwhorefusesdrugsbecauseReasons,thenissuddenlyabletowalkafterbeingpositivelyencouragedbysomeonetheywouldliketoboneorbywhomtheywouldliketobemothered.Ugh,ok.Butfinally,asImentionedearlier,whilethestorystartedoutok,itjustwentdownhillfromthere.GabehasnodiscerniblepersonalityotherthanTroubledHotManThatJoCanFixLicketySplit,andthedialogischoppy-wobblesallthetime,butbythetimewegettothelast20%ofthebook,omg.it'sbad,guys.Suddenlyacastofsocialworkersandcopsareintroduced,everyonegetsapersonalityimplant,there'satrainingmontageinhospital,Tabbyisshowntobeasaintlymanicpixiegirl,andanentire,unbelievable,cheesy-asshallmarkmovieiscrammedin.Guys,doyourememberinTheEyreAffairwhenthedetectivesareabletodefeatavillainbyusingunlabeleddialog?hilarious,Iknow,eventhoughagoodauthorwithstrongcharactervoicescangetawaywithswatchesofunlabeleddialogjustfine.Vanderah?Cannotgetawaywiththis.Inthelastsectionofthebook,therewereconsistentconversationsbetweenJoandGabewhereIhadnoideawhowastalkingbecausetheyjustbledintooneanothersodesperately.Itwaspainful.Ofcourse,thatlackofdirectionandcohesivenessbleedsallthroughtheendofthisstorysuchthatnopartofitispleasantafteracertainpoint.Idon'tknow;myreviewissuddenlysufferingthesameproblembecauseI'velostthewilltogiveashitaboutitmyself,andthatshouldalsocountforsomething.Honestly,people.Standards. ...more flag 78likes · Like  · seereview Viewall12comments Feb01,2019 Stephanie ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: bloom-reading-challenge, all-time-favorite, books-read-in-2019, up-lit Ohmyheart.Sobsobsob.Iloved,adored,TREASUREDthisbookandIdidn’twantittoend.Idon’twanttogiveanythingawaysoI’llkeepitbriefbutitwasjustPERFECT.Fullofmagicandhopeanddespairandpainandlongingandloveandlossandfearandmoremagic.Woventhroughoutthestoryarethreadsoflove.Lovelost,lovegained,lovethatthecharactersdreamtofbutweren’tsuretheydeserved,weren’tsuretheywerecapableof.Tenderlyandbeautifullywritten. flag 72likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Aug20,2019 TheresaAlan ratedit itwasamazing IwastakenbysurprisebyhowmuchIlovedthisbook.Theprotagonist,Jo,isworkingtowardherPhDandspendingthesummerstudyingbirdsandtheirnestsinthewoods.She’shadaveryroughcoupleofyears,butatnopointdidIfindhertobeself-pitying.She’sastrong,admirablecharacter,andhertragedyisrevealedoverthecourseofthestory.AprecociouslittlegirlshowsupatJo’sremotecabinwithaferaldog.Thegirliswearingpajamasandnoshoesbutwon’ttellJowhosheis IwastakenbysurprisebyhowmuchIlovedthisbook.Theprotagonist,Jo,isworkingtowardherPhDandspendingthesummerstudyingbirdsandtheirnestsinthewoods.She’shadaveryroughcoupleofyears,butatnopointdidIfindhertobeself-pitying.She’sastrong,admirablecharacter,andhertragedyisrevealedoverthecourseofthestory.AprecociouslittlegirlshowsupatJo’sremotecabinwithaferaldog.Thegirliswearingpajamasandnoshoesbutwon’ttellJowhosheisorwheresheisfrom.Instead,sheclaimstobeanalienwhohasbeensentdowntoearthtolearnabouthumanwaysandwitnessfivemiracles.ShecanspeakconvincinglyinatonguethatiscertainlyalientoJo.EventuallytheydecidetocallthegirlUrsa,asintheconstellationUrsaMajor.UrsasaysthatifJocallsthecops,she’llrun.SinceJodoesn’tknowwhatsituationthegirlisrunningfrom,shefiguresshecanatleastfeedthegirlandthentrytofigureoutwhosheisbycheckingmissingchildrendatabasesonline.Whennothingworks,sheenliststhehelpofherneighborGabriel.Gabrieldoesn’trecognizethegirlaslocal.Healsohasacomplexbackstorythatemergesoverthecourseofthenovel.Itearedupmanytimesatthisstoryandthesewonderfulcharactersandthewayevendamagedpeoplefindlovewhenit’scompletelyunexpected. ...more flag 70likes · Like  · seereview Viewall10comments May15,2019 Cheri ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: debut-novel, fiction-contemporary, debut-author, 2019, illinois Stillphysicallyrecoveringfromsurgeryforbreastcancer,aswellasintherecoveryprocessofthedeathofhermother,JoannaTealeleavestheapartmentsheshareswithherfriendTabbytofocusonhergraduateresearchinornithology,toworkinahomeownedbyoneoftheprofessorsinthetownofVienna,Illinois,aruralspotabouthalfwaybetweenSt.Louis,MissouriandNashville,Tennessee.Shestaysprettymuchtoherself,otherthansmallshoppingtripsintotown,runningtotheLaund Stillphysicallyrecoveringfromsurgeryforbreastcancer,aswellasintherecoveryprocessofthedeathofhermother,JoannaTealeleavestheapartmentsheshareswithherfriendTabbytofocusonhergraduateresearchinornithology,toworkinahomeownedbyoneoftheprofessorsinthetownofVienna,Illinois,aruralspotabouthalfwaybetweenSt.Louis,MissouriandNashville,Tennessee.Shestaysprettymuchtoherself,otherthansmallshoppingtripsintotown,runningtotheLaundromatorstoppingattheeggstanddowntheroadandbuyingeggsfromGabrielNash,whoshereferstoas“EggMan.”She’sonherwaybackfromtownwhenshepullsintothegraveldrivewayandseessomething,orsomeone,whenshestops. “Thegirlcouldbeachangeling.Shewasalmostinvisible,herpaleface,hoodie,andpantsfadingintothetwilitwoodsbehindher.Herfeetwerebare.Shestoodmotionless,onearmhuggedaroundahickorytrunk.” Joasksherwhyshe’sthere,andthegirlsaidshe’dbeentryingtopetJo’sdog,whenJoexplains,isn’treallyherdog,butastray.Whenshereturnstotheyardaftershoweringandchangingintomorecomfortableclothes,readytobegingrillinginthefirepitthegirlisn’tthere,butshowsupsoonafter,watchingJogrill,andbeginstoaskJowhyshe’scookingoutside.Joasksherifitisn’ttimeforhertoheadbacktoherownhome. ”Shecamenearer.‘Idon’thaveahomeonEarth.Icamefromthere.’Shepointedtowardthesky.” “I’mfromthePinwheelGalaxy.It’sbythebigbear’stail.” ”Ican’tgobackyet.IhavetostayonEarthuntilI’veseenfivemiracles.It’spartofourtrainingwhenwegettoacertainage—kindoflikeschool.” There’ssomethingaboutthisgirl,asmuchasJoistofeellikeshe’sbeingplayed,thatmakesheralsosensethatthere’smoretothisstorythanshe’sbeingtold,thisgirlseemsveryyoung,andyetseemsincrediblysmartforherapparentage.Upandoutthedoorbydawnthenextdaysheheadsofftocheckherindigobuntingnestsatthreeofhersitesshe’smonitoring,andonherwaybackhome,passingtheEggMan’sstand.Whenshereturnshome,thegirlhasreturned.WhenshecallstheSheriff’soffice,thedeputywhocomesoutdoesn’tseemtothinkshehasarealproblemonherhands,andifthiskidhasrunawayfromherparents,orhasnoparents,she’snotgoingtonecessarilybebetteroffinafosterhome.Ataloss,shestopsbytheEggstandandasksGabeifhe’dmindstoppingbyandseeingifheknowsjustwhothisgirlis–andwhoherparentsare.HavingreadTruePlacesbySonjaYoerg,justpriortothis,astoryinwhichthereisanotherotherworldlygirlasamaincharacter,Iwasabitworriedthatthiswouldpaleincomparison,butIwashappyenoughtostayalittlelongerinthisworldwheretheanswersaren’talwaysafewkeystrokesaway.Atitsheart,thisisreallyastoryaboutlove,inallitsmanyforms,andthehealingprocessofheartsbroken,livesbroken,andfindingawaytolivethatallowstheacceptanceoflove.Brokenpeoplelookingforhealingandsomething,someonetobelievein,andmaybeloveisnottheanswertoeverything,butsometimeslovemayindeedbeallyouneed. ...more flag 68likes · Like  · seereview Viewall46comments Jan30,2021 Arini~MissCasuallyReading ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition 2.5StarsUniquestory,thekindthatinvolves:↠abreastcancersurvivorheroinecurrentlydoinghergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois;↠aherosufferingfromdepression,agoraphobia,andabusebecauseof,youknow,fuckedupfamilyrelatedproblems;and↠anexceptionallybrightandintelligenteightyearoldgirlwhoclaimstobeanaliensentfromthestarstowitnessfivemiracles.Whatfollowsisaseriesofdomesticloveydoveydramawherethetwomainleadsplayhouseand 2.5StarsUniquestory,thekindthatinvolves:↠abreastcancersurvivorheroinecurrentlydoinghergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois;↠aherosufferingfromdepression,agoraphobia,andabusebecauseof,youknow,fuckedupfamilyrelatedproblems;and↠anexceptionallybrightandintelligenteightyearoldgirlwhoclaimstobeanaliensentfromthestarstowitnessfivemiracles.Whatfollowsisaseriesofdomesticloveydoveydramawherethetwomainleadsplayhouseandplayparentstothekidandaclichélovestorythatcompletelydisregardsthefactthattheyhaveashittonoftraumaandmentalhealthissuestoworkthrough.Thedepictionorrepresentationofthemislousyandinsensitive.There’samysterystorylinehere,anditinvolvesfindingoutthetruthaboutthekid’spast.Sheappearsoutofnowhere,alwaysrefusesandputsupafightwheneverofferedtobetakenbacktoherhome.Insteadofcallingthecops,theheroinedecidestotakeherin.Weneverknowforsureifshetrulyisanalienorit’sjusthercopingmechanismforhertrauma.Weakwriting,andbythatImean,atrocious.Notthekindthat’screativeandusesavarietyof(easytounderstand)sentencestructures—thus,somewhatokaytobesimplistic.However,it’stheshallow,unimaginative,andrepetitiouskind.Especiallywhenitcomestothedialogues.Thedirect/reportedspeechistrulyawful.ThereareDOZENSofwaystosaysaidandasked,buttheyareusedconstantlyinthehesaid,shesaidconversations.Itseriouslygratedonmynerves,particularlywhenthecharacterswereonlyexchangingshortremarksorutteranceswithoutanyinnermonologuesinbetween.Overall,thisis bleh andawholelottaproblematic.Ifthishadbeensolelyromance,Icouldprobablyuptheratingtothreestars.Alas,Ithoughtthiswassupposedtobeleaningmoretowardscontemporary(literary)fictionwithromantic,suspense,andmagicalrealismelements.Nottomention,consideringtheserioustopicsandsubjectsitbroughtupI’dexpectedmoredepththansuperficialityandfrivolousness.IthinkIjustwentintoitwiththewrongimpression. (ReadasanAudiobook) ...more flag 69likes · Like  · seereview Viewall6comments Sep08,2019 Gabby ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: cover-lust, adult, contemporary, romance, favorites, love-the-concept, 4-star-books, all-time-favorites, read-in-2019, favorite-female-characters Thisstoryisreallybeautiful.Ihadneverheardofthisbookbefore,butsomebodyleftacommentononeofmyYouTubevideoscomparingthisbooktoTheHumansbyMattHaig(akaoneofmyfavoritebooksever),soIimmediatelywantedtoreadit.Thisbookismyfavoritekindofgenre:contemporarywithasmallsci-fielementtoit.ItfollowsthiswomannamedJo,whorecentlylosthermothertocancer,andhasalsorecentlybeatherownbattlewithcancerwhenalittlegirlshowsuponherprop Thisstoryisreallybeautiful.Ihadneverheardofthisbookbefore,butsomebodyleftacommentononeofmyYouTubevideoscomparingthisbooktoTheHumansbyMattHaig(akaoneofmyfavoritebooksever),soIimmediatelywantedtoreadit.Thisbookismyfavoritekindofgenre:contemporarywithasmallsci-fielementtoit.ItfollowsthiswomannamedJo,whorecentlylosthermothertocancer,andhasalsorecentlybeatherownbattlewithcancerwhenalittlegirlshowsuponherpropertyindirtyclothesandclaimstobeanaliensentfromthestars.Sheclaimsthatsheneedstowitnessfivemiraclesbeforeshecanreturnhome.Ilovecontemporarybooksthatinvolvealiensinsomeway.ThisbookremindedmeofalotofthingsIlove,thealienaspectofthisstorydefinitelyremindedmeofTheHumans,butUrsa(thelittlegirl)kindofremindedmeofElevenfromStrangerThings,andsheremindedmeofthemarshgirlfromWheretheCrawdadsSing.Thisbookhasthismysteriousatmospherebecauseformostofityou’retryingtofigureoutwhereUrsacamefrom,andifsheactuallyisanalienorifshe’sjustatroubledlittlegirlrunningfromanabusivehome.There’salsoaslowburnromancehappeningbetweenourmaincharacterJo,andtheneighbordownthestreetGabe.Theirromancewassocuteandsweetanddefinitelyaslowburn,whichIappreciated.GabesuffersfromdepressioninthisbookandIfeellikethetopicofdepressionandmentallinesingeneralishandledreallywellandsensitivelyinthisbook.Depressionisn’tsomethingthatcanbe“cured”withthesnapofafinger,andIappreciatethathismentalillnessisn’tsugarcoatedandit’srepresentedinsucharealway.Ursaiseasilymyfavoritecharacterinthisbook,she’sabsolutelyfascinating.Oneofmyfavoritebooktropesisfollowingan“alien-like”characterwho’safishoutofwaterwhenitcomestoEarththingsandit’ssoentertainingtowatchcharacterslikethisdiscoverthingsaboutEarth.(viewspoiler)[Ialsolovelovelovethatyouneverreallyfindoutifsheisanalienornot.Ifshe’snot-she’sprettyfuckingconvincinghaha,butIlovethefactthatweneverreallyfindoutifshemadethewholethingupasawaytoescapefromthishorrificlifeshepreviouslyhadorifsheisgenuinelyanalieninthislittlegirlsbody(hidespoiler)]TheonlyreasonwhythisbookgetsfourstarsinsteadoffivestarsisbecauseIfeellikethelast50pagesofthisbookreallydragged,andthestorydidn’treallygowhereIwasexpectingitto.IjustfeltlikeIwaswaitingforittoend.(viewspoiler)[Ifeellikeitcouldhaveendedaftershesawherfifthmiracleandsaidshehadtogo,andthenifshediedinthatsceneitcouldhaveendedwiththismysteriousfeelingof“didthelittlegirljustdie?Ordidshereturntothestars?”Anditcould’vejustendedthereandbeenreallyambiguousandawesomebutinsteadwegotanother50pagesofdetectivesruiningthemysteryofhercharacterandexplainingeverylittlethingthathappenedandthenwegetthehappilyeverafterending.IdkIguessIjustexpectedmorefromthatending.(hidespoiler)]Butoverall,wowI’msoimpressed.Ican’tbelievethisisadebutnovel.ThesecharactersreallytouchedmyheartandI’msohappyIreadthis.Iwon’tbeabletostopthinkingaboutitanytimesoon.💕 ...more flag 67likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Nov29,2018 Amy ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: physical-arcs 4.5/5WhenmypublicistbuddyAshleysentmethisandsaid,youwerethisfirstpersonIthoughtofwhenIfinishedthisone,it’srightupyouralleyandisverysimilartoCatherineRyanHydeIhadafeelingIwasinforatreat!Manwassheeverright,Iwastotallycharmedbythisoneit’ssuchanunusualandgorgeousread.IadorebooksaboutunlikelyfriendshipsandthesuddenbondthatdevelopsbetweenJoandUrsawasthetypethatIlikemostofall.Joisabrokenwoman,shebattledbreas 4.5/5WhenmypublicistbuddyAshleysentmethisandsaid,youwerethisfirstpersonIthoughtofwhenIfinishedthisone,it’srightupyouralleyandisverysimilartoCatherineRyanHydeIhadafeelingIwasinforatreat!Manwassheeverright,Iwastotallycharmedbythisoneit’ssuchanunusualandgorgeousread.IadorebooksaboutunlikelyfriendshipsandthesuddenbondthatdevelopsbetweenJoandUrsawasthetypethatIlikemostofall.Joisabrokenwoman,shebattledbreastcancerataveryyoungageandhasisolatedherselffromtheoutsideworld.She’sanornithologistmakingitveryeasytoliveasecludedlifeandthelastthingshewantstodealwithisayounggirl.Ursaisthetypeofcharacterthatgrabsyourattentionandyourheartinstantly,she’ssuchastrangechild,butshe’sprecociousaswellandshewiggledherwayintomyheartjustasfastasshegotintoJo’s.Thesetwowerebothincrediblywelldeveloped,verydeepandcomplexandextremelyfascinating,especiallyUrsa.IwasdyingtohearherfullstorybecausethestorysheshareswithJowassooutthereandIreadthisonefastbecauseIwassointrigued.Thishadsuchamagicalfeeltoit,bothbecauseofUrsa’sindividualitybutalsobecauseVanderahhasabewitchingwritingstyle.Iabsolutelylovedthemeaningbehindthis,itwasaboutthebondsoflove,secondchancesandmostimportantlythepowerofkeepinghopealive.WheretheForestMeetstheStarsinthreewords:Enchanting,InsightfulandExtraordinary. ...more flag 61likes · Like  · seereview Viewall7comments Mar18,2019 DJSakata ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: family-drama, suspense, mystery, netgalley, womens-fiction, small-town FavoriteQuotes:Asalways,wordsfailwhenyoumostwanttosaytherightthing…I’vedecidedlanguageisn’tasadvancedaswethinkitis.We’restillapestryingtoexpressourthoughtswithgruntswhilemostofwhatwewanttocommunicatestayslockedinourbrains.Hewasteachingherhowtoplaypoker,andtheywereusingoystercrackersasbettingchips.“Firstguns,nowgambling,”Josaid.“You’reabadinfluence.”“Notforlong,”hesaid.“Wecan’tstopeatingourmoney.”"AndIknowwhat FavoriteQuotes:Asalways,wordsfailwhenyoumostwanttosaytherightthing…I’vedecidedlanguageisn’tasadvancedaswethinkitis.We’restillapestryingtoexpressourthoughtswithgruntswhilemostofwhatwewanttocommunicatestayslockedinourbrains.Hewasteachingherhowtoplaypoker,andtheywereusingoystercrackersasbettingchips.“Firstguns,nowgambling,”Josaid.“You’reabadinfluence.”“Notforlong,”hesaid.“Wecan’tstopeatingourmoney.”"AndIknowwhatyou’vebeenthrough—howitcouldhave…influencedwhatyoudid.”Whydideveryonethinkthat?Shekepthermouthshut,butshewantedtosaythatshewouldn’thavedoneanythingdifferentifshestillhadhermotherandherbreastsandherovaries.ShewouldloveUrsajustasmuch.Didshetellyousheoncesnuckalambintothehospital?…SheknowsIlovethebabyfarmanimalssheworkswith,soshepacksthelambinhercarwithitsmilk,drivesuptoChicago,andsneaksitintomyroomtwodaysaftermybreastswereremoved.Shetakesthistinylamboutofashoulderbag,laysitonmybed,andhandsmethebottle.There,shesays,whoneedstitsanyway?Thereareotherwaystogivemilk.Beforehislifefellapart,he’dwantedtobeanastrophysicist.HenamedhisdaughterUrsafortheBigBearinthesky,andhe’dtaughtherthenamesofstarsandconstellations.WhenUrsawasafraidofthedark,hewouldopenherwindowacrackandtellhergoodmagicthatfelloutofthestarswascominginherwindow.Hesaidthemagicwouldalwayskeephersafe.Afterhedied,Ursaopenedherwindowwideeverynight,tryingtoletinlotsofgoodmagic.MyReview:Thiscaptivatingbookbewitchedandenthralledme.Idelightedintheunexpectedandstealthyhitsofcleverwitandlevitythatwassurprisinglytuckedintothemostunexpectedplaces.IgleefullyenduredthepricklingandtauntinglyenticingmysterythatrelentlesslybeckonedtometocontinuereadingandignoreanythingandeverythingbeyondthescreenofmyKindle.Ms.Vanderah’swritingwasalchemyandIwasensorcelled.Iwasrepeatedlytakenwiththelayereddepthofthefascinatingandquirkycharactersaswellasthethoughtfulcreativityofthestorylines,whichwerecomplexandbeautifullytexturedwithcleverlyamusingandcringe-worthydetails.Iwaffledinmytheoriesofwhetherthegirl’sfantasticalexplanationsandalienassertionscouldbetrueasshewasoddlyintelligentandinsightful,andfarmoreadvancedthanmanyadultsinherabilitytoabsorbknowledgeorsketch,yetshewasasmallchildwithanestimatedageofnine.MycuriositywasasunabatingasUrsa’squarks.Ireveledinthisstunningandcunninglycraftedtalefrombeginningtoendandwasabsolutelystaggeredonceawareitwastheauthor’sdebut.GlendyVanderahisdefinitelyonetowatch.AFive-Starsratingisnotenoughbyhalf. ...more flag 60likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    Whatdoesendingmean? 1 1 1hour,5minago   NoobieGang: FireNoobs. 2 3 Aug06,202103:02PM   What'stheNameo...: SOLVED.FictionFantasyYounggirlclaimstobemagicorfromanotherwork 2 12 Jun09,202105:11PM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Fiction 1,365users Contemporary 512users Mystery 317users Romance 260users Fantasy 163users MagicalRealism 146users Audiobook 122users Adult 103users AdultFiction 75users Love 55users Seetopshelves… AboutGlendyVanderah GlendyVanderah 1,587 followers BooksbyGlendyVanderah More… ArticlesfeaturingthisbookTheHitBooksoftheFirstHalfof2019   SummerReadingissponsoredbyLifetime’sBooktoScreenMovies. We'rehalfwaythroughtheyear,sowewantedtoseewhich2019new...Readmore...110likes·51comments TriviaAboutWheretheForest... 13triviaquestions Morequizzes&trivia... QuotesfromWheretheForest... “Peoplethinktheyhavetosaysomething,anditnevermakesmefeelbetter.”“Iknow.I’vedecidedlanguageisn’tasadvancedaswethinkitis.We’restillapestryingtoexpressourthoughtswithgruntswhilemostofwhatwewanttocommunicatestayslockedinourbrains.” — 52likes “sometimesbadthingshappentomakegoodthingshappen.” — 37likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.