What does one do when one day you wake up and you're 52 years old, the third generation owner of a Rehoboth Beach, Delaware beachfront restaurant and you want all the things you don't have like a family of his own? Meet Jack Schmidt, the protagonist of Ethan Joella's work of literary fiction, THE SAME BRIGHT STARS. The question is... how badly does he want these things? He has received a generous offer for his restaurant that includes keeping his staff on. He has almost no life outside the restaurant, doesn't take time off and all his romantic relationships have failed. So, why is he struggling with making a decision?
The story is told in different timelines and the impact of the past on the present is profound. Skillfully developed are the secondary characters who come with their own backstories. With no warning, the author gives Jack a shocking surprise from his past that leads to a surprising relationship and suddenly his future might look a little different.
Expertly told, THE SAME BRIGHT STARS is a character-driven story that delves into relationships and emotions. I found it to be meaningful and moving. THE SAME BRIGHT STARS is well worth reading. Highly recommended.
From the author of the Read with Jenna Bonus Pick A Little Hope, an uplifting and emotionally resonant novel set in a Delaware beach town about a local restaurant owner at a turning point.
Three generations of Schmidts have run their family’s beachfront restaurant and Jack has been at the helm since the death of his father. Jack puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can’t remember the last time he sat on the beach, or even enjoyed a moment to himself.
Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been gradually snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast and are pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands.
Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders if closing the door on the restaurant might open a new window for him. But who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that they will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?
When he receives startling news from the past, Jack begins to reshape his life and forge unexpected new friendships. But will he really let go of the very things that have defined him?
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