Book Review: Count the Night by Stars by Michelle Shocklee

I finished Count the Night by Stars a few weeks ago but have just now been able to attempt my review because my thoughts and feelings were jumbled over this lovely but heartbreaking split-time novel by Michelle Shocklee. I first discovered Shocklee when I read Under the Tulip Tree early this year. Under the Tulip Tree was an Historical Fictional category finalist for both the Selah Award and The Christy Award for 2021. An outstanding dual-time novel, Under the Tulip Tree is a fantastic book that put the gifted Michelle Shocklee on my “always-read” list, so I anticipated Count the Night by Stars would be another great read. Did she deliver?

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your life with smiles, not tears.

1961. After a longtime resident at Nashville’s historic Maxwell House Hotel suffers a debilitating stroke, Audrey Whitfield is tasked with cleaning out the reclusive woman’s room. There, she discovers an elaborate scrapbook filled with memorabilia from the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Love notes on the backs of unmailed postcards inside capture Audrey’s imagination with hints of a forbidden romance . . . and troubling revelations about the disappearance of young women at the exposition. Audrey enlists the help of a handsome hotel guest as she tracks down clues and information about the mysterious “Peaches” and her regrets over one fateful day, nearly sixty-five years earlier.

1897. Outspoken and forward-thinking Priscilla Nichols isn’t willing to settle for just any man. She’s still holding out hope for love when she meets Luca Moretti on the eve of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Charmed by the Italian immigrant’s boldness, Priscilla spends time exploring the wonderous sights of the expo with Luca―until a darkness overshadows the monthslong event. Haunted by a terrible truth, Priscilla and Luca are sent down separate paths as the night’s stars fade into dawn.

MY THOUGHTS:

Count the Night by Stars is a compelling dual timeline story connecting two women through illness, mystery, and a scrapbook of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. While quite different, both heroines were delightful, complex characters, and I loved how Priscilla’s strength in 1897 gave courage to Audrey in 1961. Both women grew from their somewhat sheltered existences as their eyes were opened to injustices served to others. Shocklee herself said the heart of the story is “I see you.” She beautifully executed this sentiment and tackled an extremely dark and sensitive topic with finesse. The author wove the two timelines together seamlessly, and I could not stop bingeing on this emotional, captivating tale.

After finishing the story, I sat with my feelings for a while. As a voracious reader, I sometimes consume multiple books at once and often roll right into a new one after finishing a novel. As I worked my way through Count the Night by Stars, I found myself setting aside all other stories and could not bring myself to pick up another for a few days after the last page. The characters and their trials haunted me. Without giving any spoilers, I wouldn’t classify the ending as a straight-up HEA; there was a bittersweetness to it for me. My heart ached for Gia, Pricilla’s Italian lady’s maid, and her brother Luca. Luca was a swoon-worthy hero whose goodness and strength of character was a fantastic opposite to the utterly despicable Kenton.

In the 60’s timeline, I enjoyed the slow romance budding between Audrey and aspiring civil rights attorney Jason. Audrey’s complicated feelings toward her mentally challenged brother Emmet felt honest and vulnerable and gave the heroine depth. I appreciated Audrey’s growing maturity and the gradual opening of her eyes to all those around her, especially the older hotel residents.

One of the things that draws me to historical fiction is the opportunity to learn things from history that are new to me. Any time a story compels me to look up historical people, places, or events, I am so into it! I had never heard of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Shocklee’s magnificent descriptions of the various exhibitions, food, attractions, and buildings enthralled me. I also was ignorant of the famed Maxwell House hotel, where the coffee brand originated, so again down the research rabbit hole I dove. I love when an author paints such a vivid picture that I become desperate to know more about a time period or place.

Bottom line:

This is a powerful book that I’ve already recommended to several people. It’s one of those poignant stories that will stay with me. Shocklee’s intended “I see you” message shines through and even helped me to see issues and people in the past that I’d not given much thought to before. If you enjoy beautiful, meaningful storytelling with multi-faceted characters and rich details, add Count the Night by Stars to your TBR list today!

One sidenote: I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sarah Zimmerman, who is always fantastic. I was completely immersed in the story and felt her southern and Italian accents were very authentic. But I found it a little strange that Luca and Gia had accents since he immigrated to America very young and she was born in the U.S. Nonetheless, overall, I adored this book and foresee rereading it in the future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Awards & Selah Awards finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage–her father’s family is Hispanic and her mother’s roots go back to Germany–she has always celebrated diversity and feels it’s important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.

With both her sons grown, she and her husband now make their home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about in her new book COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, a time-slip story set during the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition.

Michelle loves hearing from readers! Connect with her at www.MichelleShocklee.com.