I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I have always been fascinated by astrology. Do I live and die by it? Absolutely not, but do I enjoy finding connections between my birth chart and events in my life? You know I do. It was only natural that I would gravitate toward this book, and while it didn’t quite hit all the marks of an amazing read, it was definitely entertaining.

Set at an astrological retreat at a themed Northeastern hotel, the story follows a group of friends fast approaching middle age and their mysterious host. Margot, a high-powered lawyer needing a break from her stressful life, desperately wants to be a mother. She is hoping for a sign that soon she will become pregnant and that she and her loving husband, Ted, will finally be parents. Margo also hopes to reconnect with her older brother, Adam, a successful writer. Adam is facing troubles in his marriage to Aimee, a successful mommy influencer. Aimee also brings her best friend Farah, an OBGYN who is struggling with some intense romantic feelings for Aimee while trying to figure out her marriage to a high-powered senator. Rounding out the guests are Eden and Rick, a polyamorous couple with a few secrets of their own. The eight guests plan for three days of relaxation and astrology readings, but Rini, their mysterious host, has secrets of her own, and the guests will soon find that the idyllic retreat holds dark secrets beneath its serene facade.

What I liked most about the book was how astrology was intricately woven throughout the narrative. Rini, the enigmatic astrologer host, skillfully guides the characters through their challenges and triumphs, using the stars as her compass. As the story unfolds, the influence of astrology on each character’s journey becomes increasingly clear, adding a captivating layer of mysticism to the plot.

But don’t be deceived by the tranquil setting of Stars Harbor – beneath the surface, a simmering tension builds, leading to a shocking twist. Secrets are unveiled, relationships are strained, and the true nature of each character is exposed.

Jade weaves a complex web of relationships and emotions, with each character grappling with inner demons. The narrative is replete with dark secrets, a theme I find intriguing, especially when it involves affluent individuals with self-imposed, messy, complicated issues. The story is narrated from the perspectives of five of the nine characters: Rini (the hotel owner), Margot, Aimee, Adam, and Farah. This balanced approach provides valuable insights into the relationships without overwhelming the story with too many viewpoints. I never felt disoriented or confused which often happens for me when there are too many characters.

While I enjoyed the premise and found the characters interesting, the problem for me was that there was a lot of buildup to a very lackluster ending. There were some pretty big bombs set up with some of these storylines that could have led to some very explosive confrontations, but each of them fizzled out as the plot progressed, which was very disappointing. I was also not a fan of the scene toward the end when everything came to a head. Was the twist surprising? Sure, but the entire climactic scene took place outside during a hurricane. While I can suspend disbelief pretty easily, I couldn’t here. I lived in Texas for almost 16 years and weathered many hurricanes. You do not want to be outside during one, and you certainly wouldn’t be able to have the conversations these people had while fighting off winds, torrential rain, and waves.

While I enjoyed the premise and found the characters interesting, there was a lot of buildup that fizzled and many missed opportunities for some really explosive drama. These were some messy people, and I felt that the neat resolution of their issues at the end didn’t do justice to the complexity of their characters. It just didn’t seem realistic. Overall, I liked it, but I didn’t love it.