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Until I See Stars
Until I See Stars Marisa Recker
Karina and Dan think their marriage is unshakeable... until the strains of long-distance test their loyalties.
Kayla and Bethany believe that the bond of sisterhood is unbreakable... until a shocking betrayal creates lasting damage for their friendship.
Until I See Stars follows the Fitzpatrick family for over 30 years and two separate timelines. The first is that of Karina and Dan, a young married couple struggling to navigate a long-distance relationship with two young children. The second begins twenty years later with Kayla and Bethany Fitzpatrick, as Karina and Dan's children navigate the whirlwinds of adulthood, their dying father, and their estranged relationship with each other.
At its core, Until I See Stars is centered on four people who have to fall apart to find each other again. They must each learn to accept the brokenness in each other and the brokenness in themselves. Follow the Fitzpatrick family as they discover the beautiful, messy, and sometimes ugly account of what it means to be a husband, a wife, a parent, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.
About the Author
Marisa Recker graduated from The King's College in New York City with a degree in Media, Culture, and the Arts. She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and her two guinea pigs. She published her first novel, Some People Wonder , in 2018.
Karina and Dan think their marriage is unshakeable... until the strains of long-distance test their loyalties.
Kayla and Bethany believe that the bond of sisterhood is unbreakable... until a shocking betrayal creates lasting damage for their friendship.
Until I See Stars follows the Fitzpatrick family for over 30 years and two separate timelines. The first is that of Karina and Dan, a young married couple struggling to navigate a long-distance relationship with two young children. The second begins twenty years later with Kayla and Bethany Fitzpatrick, as Karina and Dan's children navigate the whirlwinds of adulthood, their dying father, and their estranged relationship with each other.
At its core, Until I See Stars is centered on four people who have to fall apart to find each other again. They must each learn to accept the brokenness in each other and the brokenness in themselves. Follow the Fitzpatrick family as they discover the beautiful, messy, and sometimes ugly account of what it means to be a husband, a wife, a parent, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.
About the Author
Marisa Recker graduated from The King's College in New York City with a degree in Media, Culture, and the Arts. She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and her two guinea pigs. She published her first novel, Some People Wonder , in 2018.
270 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 8, 2023
Thank you to @marisa_recker_gonzalez for reaching out. I appreciate the gifted paperback copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. Things That Should Be Obvious - How could Dan not realize that his living in another country would cause things to go south in his marriage. And of course, all of the secrets held by almost everyone were never going to end well.
2. Real Life Struggles - Everything about this novel rings so true to what real life is truly like. Everyone will be able to relate to parts of this beautiful story.
3. Difficult Health Issues - Dementia has always been a terrifying concept to me. It is scary to watch it happen to anyone, and I often pray that it won’t affect me or anyone close to me.
4. Lost Chances - Life is too short not to take some chances, even if those chances could carry some heartbreak. And accepting apologies and giving forgiveness can truly resolve some of life’s worst hardships.
5. Letters - I love the inclusion of letters throughout the novel; however, I feel like once the girls are adults, they would most likely be emailing or texting each other and not sending actual letters. Just a thought that crossed my mind.
The only part of the story that I didn’t feel closure with was what ultimately happened to Karina (unless I somehow missed it). I found myself waiting for that part of the past to be resolved.
Until I See Stars is a beautiful story that shows how messy life can get, and yet, how much hope there is for things to turn out great in the end. You will not be disappointed in this one!
1. Things That Should Be Obvious - How could Dan not realize that his living in another country would cause things to go south in his marriage. And of course, all of the secrets held by almost everyone were never going to end well.
2. Real Life Struggles - Everything about this novel rings so true to what real life is truly like. Everyone will be able to relate to parts of this beautiful story.
3. Difficult Health Issues - Dementia has always been a terrifying concept to me. It is scary to watch it happen to anyone, and I often pray that it won’t affect me or anyone close to me.
4. Lost Chances - Life is too short not to take some chances, even if those chances could carry some heartbreak. And accepting apologies and giving forgiveness can truly resolve some of life’s worst hardships.
5. Letters - I love the inclusion of letters throughout the novel; however, I feel like once the girls are adults, they would most likely be emailing or texting each other and not sending actual letters. Just a thought that crossed my mind.
The only part of the story that I didn’t feel closure with was what ultimately happened to Karina (unless I somehow missed it). I found myself waiting for that part of the past to be resolved.
Until I See Stars is a beautiful story that shows how messy life can get, and yet, how much hope there is for things to turn out great in the end. You will not be disappointed in this one!
August 15, 2022
The synopsis alone brings me to tears <3
This story follows Karina and Dan as they work through their struggles of a long-distance relationship with two daughters. Years later we get to see these two daughters as they reunite and work through their difficult relationship with each other. This family learns to discover the beautiful, messy, and sometimes ugly account of what it means to be a husband, a wife, a parent, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.
It's so difficult for me to read books about betrayal, lies, and heartbreak because I personally am not the forgiving type. But Marisa's writing makes you understand
each side of the story and it honestly makes you like the characters even more. My favorite part of the story is getting to see alternating timelines and POVs. We get a
full picture of the entire family and it's very easy to follow along. Overall, the book was very easy to read and I enjoyed every second of it.
A big thank you to Marisa for a gifted copy of her beautiful book!
This story follows Karina and Dan as they work through their struggles of a long-distance relationship with two daughters. Years later we get to see these two daughters as they reunite and work through their difficult relationship with each other. This family learns to discover the beautiful, messy, and sometimes ugly account of what it means to be a husband, a wife, a parent, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.
It's so difficult for me to read books about betrayal, lies, and heartbreak because I personally am not the forgiving type. But Marisa's writing makes you understand
each side of the story and it honestly makes you like the characters even more. My favorite part of the story is getting to see alternating timelines and POVs. We get a
full picture of the entire family and it's very easy to follow along. Overall, the book was very easy to read and I enjoyed every second of it.
A big thank you to Marisa for a gifted copy of her beautiful book!
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February 26, 2023Thank you @marisa_recker_gonzalez for reaching out & for sending me a copy of your book!
Wow 🤩 this book was so much more than I was expecting! The back & forth took a little getting used to, but once I was in I was hooked!
It’s no secret that I LOVE dual povs! And dual timelines are pretty high on my love list! But they have to be done right, & this one did just that 👏🏻
I loved the relationships throughout, & the fact that they portray real life relationships. They are not always perfect, & at times really frustrating. My favourite to follow was Bethany & Kayla. That sister bond is like no other, & I found them relatable in more ways than one 💕
Overall verdict: A emotional, & at times utterly heartbreaking, story about life, love, loss, & family ❤️
This book deals with some really tough topics, so please do your research before reading.
Wow 🤩 this book was so much more than I was expecting! The back & forth took a little getting used to, but once I was in I was hooked!
It’s no secret that I LOVE dual povs! And dual timelines are pretty high on my love list! But they have to be done right, & this one did just that 👏🏻
I loved the relationships throughout, & the fact that they portray real life relationships. They are not always perfect, & at times really frustrating. My favourite to follow was Bethany & Kayla. That sister bond is like no other, & I found them relatable in more ways than one 💕
Overall verdict: A emotional, & at times utterly heartbreaking, story about life, love, loss, & family ❤️
This book deals with some really tough topics, so please do your research before reading.
July 20, 2022
Read this if…
✨You like books with alternating timelines
✨You’re looking for a fiction book about life and its hardships
✨You believe in second chances
MY SYNOPSIS: Kayla has done everything in her power to escape the small town she grew up in and the drama surrounding her family. But when her father is on his death bed, she’ll find herself making the drive back and facing her sister, Bethany, the one she’s never forgiven. The book begs the question: Can decades of heartache, lies, and anger be forgiven?
MY THOUGHTS: A true fiction book - no spicy romance or “who done it” aspects. A story of lies, betrayal, heartbreak, and second chances. I really enjoyed that it was told in alternating timelines and POVs - it gave you a full circle view of the story and it’s impact. It forced me to think about what I would have done in that situation and if I could have forgiven the involved parties. I’m general, it was just a little slow for me - it didn’t suck me in and have me waiting to turn the next page. There was a lot of cheating and miscommunication, which is not my cup of tea.
A big thank you to Marisa for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
✨You like books with alternating timelines
✨You’re looking for a fiction book about life and its hardships
✨You believe in second chances
MY SYNOPSIS: Kayla has done everything in her power to escape the small town she grew up in and the drama surrounding her family. But when her father is on his death bed, she’ll find herself making the drive back and facing her sister, Bethany, the one she’s never forgiven. The book begs the question: Can decades of heartache, lies, and anger be forgiven?
MY THOUGHTS: A true fiction book - no spicy romance or “who done it” aspects. A story of lies, betrayal, heartbreak, and second chances. I really enjoyed that it was told in alternating timelines and POVs - it gave you a full circle view of the story and it’s impact. It forced me to think about what I would have done in that situation and if I could have forgiven the involved parties. I’m general, it was just a little slow for me - it didn’t suck me in and have me waiting to turn the next page. There was a lot of cheating and miscommunication, which is not my cup of tea.
A big thank you to Marisa for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 29, 2022
Until I See Stars focuses on family struggles and their relationships. The book takes place on two timelines and makes it work. It was not confusing to follow and was really well done. You will find yourself really caring for the characters. The characters are well written and feel very real. The author tackles some family issues that many people will be able to relate to. Overall, this book was a great read and I didnt want to put it down.
December 26, 2024
A good drama/fiction with an interesting storyline and a moving ending that makes good points about family.
July 29, 2022
Loved this book! Such powerful prose about family, especially sisterhood.
Tough topics, but well written and not cliche.
Tough topics, but well written and not cliche.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews