The Penguin Podcast is back! Listen Now
Starry, Starry Night

Starry, Starry Night

The escapist, feel-good summer read about family secrets

Summary

'We'll always be together, won't we?'

Childhood friends and cousins Leo and Alice had imagined their whole lives playing out on their beloved Devon beach. But one night when they are teens, sitting on the sand beneath the stars, Alice tells Leo a secret that must never be shared with anybody else . . . then packs her bag and flees.

Leo is left to build his own life - without Alice. He surrounds himself with other family and friends and on the whole is content and fulfilled. But he is left with a sense of what - or who - is missing. So decades later, when he receives a note from Alice asking if she can come home, he doesn't hesitate to agree.

But as the stars align and their reunion draws near, Leo is left to consider their separation and what so many years apart means for a relationship solidified in youth and a secret which could affect the whole family.

Praise for Marcia Willett:
'A warm and engaging read.' Trisha Ashley, bestselling author of The Garden of Forgotten Wishes
'A beautifully woven tale of families and their secrets...' Liz Fenwick, bestselling author of The Cornish House
'Riveting, moving and utterly feel-good.' Daily Mail
'Sweeping powers of description transport her readers to another time and place.' Rosanna Ley, author of The Orange Grove

Readers love Starry, Starry Night:
'Perfect comfort reading' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A very absorbing tale with lovely descriptions of the West Country' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Like meeting an old friend' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviews

  • Warm summer reading.
    Choice Magazine

About the author

Marcia Willett

Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she never regretted.


She lived in a beautiful and wild part of Devon, and her surroundings inspired many of her novels.

Marcia passed away in June 2022. She leaves behind a son and two grandchildren.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more