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.

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..

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.

I liked the plot and overall read. I felt the need to discuss it after reading and had to find a reddit to chat.

Had me believing she really was an alien. I did not expect the twist. Beautifully written story, there were such good potrayals of depression, difficult family dynamics, and recovery. This is one of my favorite books now. 5/5 !! No notes Great job Glendy!!!

Interesting story filled with engaging characters. I enjoyed the development of relationships between Jo, Ursa and Gabe….all their hardships and past traumas shaped the development of their journey. There’s hope and family and most importantly the importance of having a second chance.