The Giver of Stars

By: Jojo Moyes

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Brought to you by Penguin.

The spellbinding story of love, friendship and the power of words to change the world by the international bestselling author of Me Before You

The greatest love story is the one you least expect . . .

Alice Wright doesn't love her new American husband.

Nor her domineering father-in-law or the judgmental townsfolk of Baileyville, Kentucky.

Stifled and misunderstood, she yearns for escape and finds it in defiant Margery O'Hare and the sisterhood bringing books to the isolated and vulnerable.

But when her father-in-law and the town turn against them, Alice fears the freedom, friendship and new love she's found will be lost . . .

Read by Audie-award winner Julie Whelan.


'Her best novel yet. Julian Whelan [is] the perfect reader' The Times

'Utterly enchanting' Mail on Sunday

'Epic' David Nicholls, bestselling author of One Day

© Jojo Moyes 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

Critic reviews

HER BEST NOVEL YET

Inspiring and wildly romantic

Utterly enchanting

An entertaining, immersive and moving read. The Giver of Stars is rip-roaring popular fiction . . . but it is also a novel that celebrates education, intellectual curiosity and, above all, books and the knowledge, comfort, company and power that they can bring. Moyes shines a light on a historic footnote to pay tribute to women's work, endurance and female solidarity

For years I've been a huge Jojo Moyes fan. It's such a great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together, especially for these women who are completely bonded by their love of literature

A genuinely entertaining book that's a perfect gift for people who need some escape from the everyday and just want to be absorbed in a really cracking story. Set in rural America in the 1930s, it's got a band of feisty characters who are funny and sweet with contemporary resonances to boot

With characters so real they feel like dear friends and a compelling storyline, this is a beautiful, special novel. I loved it and didn't want it to end!

What a wonderful novel. The Giver of Stars is the most sweeping, dramatic, richly evocative book, full of brilliantly feisty women. I whipped through the pages, utterly agog, pretty much feeling as though I was on a horse in 1930s Kentucky myself

Epic

Timeless, Jojo Moyes' greatest work yet, and one of the most exquisitely-written - and absolutely compulsory - novels about women ever told. Brilliant and perfect and will remind you of why you read; even of why you breathe

Loved it

Great story well narrated, absolutely captivating. First I troduction to Jojo Moyez and now I will be looking for more books by her.

Refreshingly dramatic, perfectly told, well delivered!

A very intriguing read. Jojo takes us through a time that is hard to imagine. She immerses us into the remote landscapes of Kentucky at a time when life was so very difficult for the have-note, women and people of colour. It’s hilarious in many ways, whilst still emotionally riveting. Fantastic use of quotes from great literary works. The love story between woman and nature, woman and animal, woman to woman, woman and child - so well articulated. The characters well represented. I loved, hated, loathed, and empathized with every one.I felt like I lived there. A very well delivered performance. Perfect Intonation, appropriate accents and channeling of emotion. Kudos. A great bookclub read with many themes to be explored and discussed. Thank you.

I loved everything about this book

This book has it all - strong, interesting, well-defined characters and an epic story line. All this is brought to life in a beautiful performance by Julia Whelan. I loved every line and couldn't stop listening. The Pack Horse library revolutionised the lives of so many in Kentucky and I thank the author for making us aware of their incredible bravery and achievement.

Amazing Book and Fantasic Narration

“There is always a way out of a situation. Might be ugly. Might leave you feeling like the earth had gone and shifted under your feet. But there is always a way around.”
~Jojo Moyes, The Giver of Stars

EVERYBODY STOP WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING AND BUY THIS BOOK!! I promise you won’t regret it. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is the unforgettable story of a group of women that become the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. The women are all vastly different, but the way they come together to protect each other and serve their community is incredible.

As you can probably tell, I LOVED this story. Absolutely loved it. I was immediately drawn into the beautiful descriptions of the Kentucky mountains, and by each unique character fighting to break free of the traditional expectations set upon women and create a life for themselves. I loved the lengths with which they would go to deliver books to their community, and the incredible life-changing impact that we all know that books have. The story primarily revolves around Alice, a British women brought to Kentucky by her new husband who quickly discovers the marriage to not be all she thought it would be; and Margery, a bit of an outcast from town, but the feisty leader of the Packhorse Librarians, and a women not afraid to live by her own rules. Together Margery and Alice discover what it means to truly fight for the life you want to live, and how far the bonds of friendship can sustain us.

I loved all the beautiful romances throughout the story, and the ways that each relationship developed. The second half of the book completely took me by surprise with the new plot lines that were introduced, and by the end I found myself crying with a smile on my face. That ending was SO moving. I wish this review could truly do justice to this incredible story, but I honestly can’t. The Giver of Stars quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year, and one of my favorite stories of all time. I HIGHLY recommend that everyone read or listen to it. (The audio-book is PHENOMENAL by the way...I mean, it’s Julia Whelan...need I say more?!)

Thank you Jojo Moyer

I couldn’t stop listening. It was beautifully written and
narrated. I cried, I smiled ( a lot) and was entranced by the friendships and countryside.