Nov. 14, 2025
By Olive Bautista
Staff Writer
Decades after her painful childhood, Sarah Forster’s life is upended when she receives a letter from her older sister, Vic, whom she has not spoken to in decades. This sets the stage for “The Stargazers,” Harriet Evans’ emotional and intriguing novel.
The prologue and epilogue of the book are set in 2020. By this time, Sarah is an elderly widow living in London, England. When she opens her sister’s letter, she is surprised to also find a map of stars, which she has seen before.
While some readers may find the novel’s references to antisemitism and misogyny disturbing, the emotional constellation it creates is unforgettable.
In Part 1, Evans transports readers to 1969, when Sarah and her then-husband, Daniel, are living in a new house they bought from a troubled family. As Sarah and Daniel establish themselves in their new community, their neighbors reveal their prejudice by ridiculing Daniel for being Jewish.
In Part 2, Evans takes readers even further into the past to 1954, where readers find out about Sarah’s experiences at a traditional school focused on preparing women for marriage and motherhood. This part also addresses the abuse Sarah and Vic experienced in their childhood. Readers learn that their mother failed to take proper care of them because she was too focused on reclaiming what was hers — the house of Fane, which their Uncle Clive had taken.
Part 3 remains focused on 1954, and Part 4 flashes forward to 1974. By this point, readers recognize that every event is connected, such as the dismissal of Sarah’s favorite cello teacher and her relationship with the only person she believes truly cared about her.
While some readers may find the novel’s references to antisemitism and misogyny disturbing, the emotional constellation it creates is unforgettable. Likewise, the flashbacks and long chapters can feel overwhelming, but “The Stargazers” culminates in a gripping cliffhanger that will leave readers utterly speechless.
Ultimately, “The Stargazers” proves itself to be more than a family saga. It is a reminder that the stars we look to for guidance can also reflect our past — shining light on who we were, who we are and who we still hope to become.
