Where the Forest Meets the Stars

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.

It’s a very sweet heart warming story. Not super complicated or hard to read, simple and sweet. It’s a nice read if you want a feel good story. It may be triggering for some as some aspects may be disturbing for some.

The story was very interesting and kept me engaged the entire time. It's a must read. I wish there was a second book to continue this story of events.

Great read, couldn’t put it down. Love all the main characters. The book had me crying happy and sad tears.

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.

It has been a long time since a book gripped me so tightly that I couldn't put it down during the climax of the story - this one did. This is a story of of three broken people (four if you count the dog) that fate brings together to make whole again. It is very well written in that the reader becomes emotionally invested in the story. The characters are well developed and believable. The plot is also well put together and believable. This is actually a departure from my usual genres of books and stories - and I'm very happy I ventured outside of my boundaries this time. One of the things I liked most about the writing style is how Glendy Vanderah refers to the little girl in the story as the alien (at least until she is given a name later in the book). This despite the fact that he reader knows from the very beginning that this is a very troubled little girl and the book is not a science fiction story. This simple technique helps pull the reader into the story that is being woven together. As for the little girl herself (the alien) I have to think for an author developing and characterizing a child, especially a troubled child, has to be a very difficult task. Nevertheless, Ms. Vanderah gives us a very believable character in the alien. A character that you simply want to reach through the pages and hug because you know something bad has happened to her. On that point Ms. Vanderah does an excellent job at developing her plot without revealing very much of it at all. Ms. Vanderah stays on the fringes of the plot secret only giving the reader enough information to know that some tragedy has occurred to this little girl but not enough to help the reader come up with a theory of what that tragedy may have been. And speaking of tragedies, the other two main characters Jo and Gabe have both had their own individual tragedies in Jo's case recently and in Gabe's case for his entire life. Their stories are such that one could be forgiven if they never believed these two would hold much of a conversation with each other. But the alien becomes a catalyst that brings these two broken lives together - and in the end those two broken lives become instrumental in saving a third broken live - the alien. At it's core this is a love story. But not necessarily a sappy romantic love story - I would have lost interest in that quickly. But a love story that demonstrates just how powerful and magical love can be and how love truly can conquer all. This is most evident at the very end of the book and again Ms. Vanderah kept the ultimate ending well hidden. I have so much more I could say about this book. But I may end up revealing too much. Suffice to say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time and I enjoyed my time with Jo, Gabe, the alien, and Ms. Vanderah. Ok, so why four stars. Ms. Vanderah, while writing a beautifully woven tale chose to interject colorful adult euphemisms into her dialog. In this particular story this added nothing to the story and exemplified my belief that the use of this language is a writer's "lazy tool". That is, I belief the author thinks to themselves, "I want to make a strong point here" and rather than come up with a more literary manner of doing this they fall back to guttural language. This particular story did not need this guttural language and I'd have preferred it not be there. Ms. Vanderah was demonstrating what a masterful author she is so I don't think it would have been overly difficult for her to eliminate this language and find another way to make her strong points.

I really loved this story. It was so interesting and engaging and a story like no other. I loved the balance.between fantasy, imagination and reality. But I don't know which was which. Sorry it had to end..

This book kept me intrigued from the beginning until the end! I loved how intelligent the little girl was and the idea of the miracles. This should be read by adults and teenagers! I will read it again!

I bought this book for the title only, and it does the book justice. A wonderful tale of attachment and love weaved into a forest setting. No spoilers here, but do not miss the opportunity to benefit from the experience of this read.

At first, I thought the novel was pure fantasy, given the way Ursa enters into the life of Jo, claiming she came from the stars. However, nothing magic happens, but everything is so normal, such as things that happen among normal people. Ursa mingles into the lives of the neighbors so naturally, yet so intensively, that she changes everybody’s life, and, certainly, for the better. Ursa is the missing puzzle piece, the one that brings happiness and love to everyone she meets. Reality prevails over fantasy and long she was really an alien coming from the stars. I think it is a great book. An original story that moved me and reminded me of the importance of enjoying every minute of my life, while I have it.

Its such a beautiful story full of love and compassion. I am usually a fan of thrillers n suspense novels but this one kept me hooked. The character of Ursa is such that till the end you want to believe that shes a soul from somewhere else.. shes lovely and exhurbiant and so much full of magic. Beautifully the writer has explored the delicate topics of depression and how one bounces back from a terminal illness. Simple yet so engrossing... the forests truly meet the stars ... loved it🤗

"Where the Forest Meets the Stars" by Glendy Vanderah is a captivating tale that seamlessly weaves together themes of grief, healing, and the magic of connection. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world where the ordinary and the extraordinary collide. The story revolves around Jo Teale, an ornithologist who is grieving the loss of her mother to cancer, and Ursa, a mysterious young girl who claims to be an alien on a mission to witness five miracles. Their unlikely friendship forms the heart of the narrative, and it's impossible not to become emotionally invested in their journey. Vanderah's writing is nothing short of exquisite. Her descriptions of nature are vivid and poetic, creating a rich backdrop for the story. The characters are beautifully developed, each harboring their own wounds and secrets, and their growth throughout the novel is both moving and believable. As the story unfolds, it explores the themes of love, loss, and the healing power of human connection. It also delves into the profound idea of finding wonder and miracles in the most unexpected places. Vanderah's storytelling skillfully tugs at the heartstrings, leaving you with a sense of hope and renewal by the end. "Where the Forest Meets the Stars" is a literary gem that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories that are both heartwarming and thought-provoking. It's a book that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is light to be found, and sometimes, that light is as extraordinary as the stars themselves. This novel is a testament to the magic that can be discovered where the forest truly meets the stars.

A novel.that has many subtle twists and turns. It will.have you s!smiling and crying. Imaginative and beautifully written. You fall in love with all of the main characters instantly.