Diana Martin has lived her life in the shadow of her sadistic older brother. She quietly watches the family next door, enthralled by celebrity fashion designer Marianne Taylor and her feted daughter, Aurelle.
She wishes she were a 'Taylor girl'.
By the summer of 1995, the two girls are at university together, bonded by a mutual desire to escape their wealthy families and personal tragedies and forge new identities.
They are closer than lovers, intoxicated by their own bond, falling into the hedonistic seduction of the woods and the water at a remote university that is more summer camp than campus.
But when burgeoning artist Diana has a chance at fame, cracks start to appear in their friendship. To what lengths is Diana willing to go to secure her own stardom?
'The ultimate story of an outsider looking in'
@thingsthativeread, Instagram
'I could not put down this gorgeous book on friendship, love, family and all the beauty and angst that goes with it'
@literallyl0uise, Instagram
'In under 300 pages, Petrou creates something really quite special'
@hallereads, Instagram
'It was creepy, it was mysterious, it was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I absolutely LOVED it'
@gee.booksandlife, Instagram
'This was a stunning, dark and compelling read which completely gripped me. It was everything I look for in book and let me tell you I’ve got major a book hangover right now'
@rainydaybookcorner, Instagram
'I came for the 90s nostalgia and that glorious cover but I stayed for the complex female friendship'
@laurapauthor, Instagram
'This book is a fascinating gaze at the complexities that exist in female friendship, and the dynamics of codependent relationships. The girls party hard but love even harder in this, and my soul felt twisted and raw by the end'
@aoife.audrey, Instagram
'It exceeded all my expectations and left me a weepy mess'
@libraryofsoph, Instagram
'This book is wickedly clever and bleak and fascinating, I couldn’t put it down!'
@jayerockett, Instagram
'I wish I could read it all again immediately'
@bookishdinostar, Instagram
'The real delight of this story is the way Petrou paints the characters. Their relationship is beautiful, but toxic. Loving, but obsessive. It’s delicious and dangerous at the same time and one I will be thinking about for a long time'
@paradise_library, Instagram
'A searing portrait of female friendship, obsession and breakdown, sharply and brilliantly emotional'
@travels.along.my.bookshelf, Instagram
'This. Is. Simply. A. Work. Of. Art... My favourite book of 2022 with the prospect of it easily creeping into my top 10 reads... Of all time'
@manishaisreading, Instagram
'I was totally captivated. I loved this book so much!'
@yorkshire_bookshelf, Instagram
'I don't know what I expected from this book but I was blown away by it'
@livreads_, Instagram
'This book was wild, captivating, dark and kept me wanting more'
@ljreads_, Instragram
This is a gripping novel based on the intense, young friendship of two girls who come together after the death of Diana's brother and have stayed together ever since. At first the pair look like a match brought together by fate who really bring out the best of them both but as Diana starts to focus more on her art at the expense of her muse, things change for the worse. There is a dark edge throughout the novel which comes out towards the last third and makes sure you don't want to put it down until the very end. Overall an intense and dark story with a twist.
Gemma C, NetGalley
I enjoyed it, and gave it 4 stars in the end. The book moves between the point of view of Diana and Marianne. I liked them both, but equally disliked them too. You’ll get why when you read it. The friendship was so toxic, yet beautiful, and tragic all at once. Their closeness was something else, they do everything together, and it all started kind of by chance. The things they go through, tell each other, and help each other with is the stuff all friendships should be made of. But the underlying jealousy and nastiness creeps its way through, and the story ends so far from where you’d first imagine.
Deanne W, NetGalley
This book is so descriptive, of places sights sound and emotions that you feel like you are there in the moment with them. It's set in 1995 which is relatable to me because I was a similar age to them at that time. It is utterly unputdownable! Throughout the book there is an undertone that something is going to happen and the further you get into the book the more chilling and haunting it becomes!
Corrie S, NetGalley
I couldn't put this book down. It was such a gripping, poignant read. I really liked the author's writing style, it felt understated and everything, all the emotions, just sort of creep onto you? I don't know if I'm making sense but as I was reading to the ending, I had those kinds of emotions. Like I knew something was going to go wrong and there were a dozen ways it could and I was getting scared but I couldn't stop reading.
Nicole K, NetGalley
I fell completely head over heels with this novel. The descriptions of the settings, especially the cabin and the lake, were intoxicating, and the girls themselves were both relatable in their own ways. This book was just so beautifully written that I’m not sure I can do it justice in my review. I also don’t want to say any more about the plot because I don’t want to include spoilers but I found it moved in surprising ways. By the end I was dumbstruck. Honestly this is a real contender for one of my favourite reads of 2022. Stunning.
Pipa M, NetGalley
A dark and twisted tale that I devoured in one sitting, desperate to find out what happened. Its difficult to say too much without giving the plot away, but it's one of those thrillers that I can see making its way to the screen.. The characters, not all of them likeable, were brilliantly crafted and there are so many 'nooooooooo' moments throughout the story due to unexpected twists. When you cry for a character you know the author has done well Oh, and the references to 90s music were nostalgic too.. I loved it!
Samantha S, NetGalley
Diana grew up next door to a celebrity family, wishing she could be a part of that world, rather than her own unhappy experiences. This is a story of rivalry and envy, success and feeling second best, wishing to be in the limelight or shrinking from it, an experience of youthful friendship and social failures. The writing hits the right note, family expectations and also dysfunctional families, where both leave an unhappy longing to escape. You can picture yourself there it is so beautifully described and keeps you guessing as to where it’s headed. Well worth the read.
Sandra M, NetGalley
An addictive book that I couldn't put down! The characters were both well thought out and explored, each with their own pains and difficulties. As the book progressed I saw how twisted and destructive their relationship had become and was intrigued until the end. 5/5!
Nishma P, NetGalley
This book is about the female bond, obsession, insecurity and loneliness. Gripping compelling and short it’s a real winner.
Giselle Q, NetGalley
Petrou's beautiful writing contrasts with a lingering darkness than overhangs this novel. So atmospheric I felt transported to rural Canada, Stargazer is an exploration of female friendships, family, wealth, loneliness, coming of age, and fame. With a vibe reminiscent of Tartt's The Secret History, Petrou has created a fascinating, character driven novel that I've no doubt will keep friends and book groups in discussion for years to come. My first experience of Patrou's work and it won't be my last.
Rhoda M, NetGalley
This is such an interesting deep dive into the complexities of female friendship and the type of up an down/weak and strong dynamics there are in many types of relationships from friendships to romantic ones
Aoife L, NetGalley
You don't want to put it down until the very end. Overall an intense and dark story with a twist
Gemma C, NetGalley
The Great Gatsby meets
The Secret History: an ominous and compelling tale of love, grief, obsession, privilege, envy and celebrity
Lisa M, NetGalley
A very pacey, thrilling and raw book about interestingly flawed young women navigating their place in the world, and what risks you'd take to be part of another's life. I was really glad it was set in the 1990s as that rich mine of culture and pre-internet exposure allows for a deep dive into the recklessness of that decade and its defining moments in art, coming of age anarchy and freedom
Lindsay F, NetGalley
Stargazer is firmly nestled the 1990s; the hedonistic atmospheres, the music, the makeup, the drugs, the salacious freedom of a remote, elite university. This novel is a dive into the seemingly placid depths of a lake that hides turbulent and dangerous currents. Weeks after turning its last page, I still feel the lure of it
Carmelita N, NetGalley
Addictive
Munirih G, NetGalley
I read this in 2 sittings, as it was very compelling
Hannah V, NetGalley
A fabulous novel that I can’t recommend enough... it gripped me from the start
BookishBethan
Haunting and everything I wanted it to be,
Stargazer is fantastic and I will be reading more from Laurie Petrou. I was and will be thinking about this book for a while
Anna H, NetGalley
There is much to love about this novel
Sally A, NetGalley
A fabulous read
Michelle C, NetGalley
Petrou brilliantly dives into some dark material and manages to create an ominous, almost frighteningly foreboding, atmosphere all the way through. Petrou is an absolute expert at delivering dark themes at just the right moments with just the right amount of buildup
Lauren C, NetGalley
I am obsessed with this book
Kirsten L, NetGalley
The best book I’ve read all year
Suzanne O, NetGalley
What interested me was the exploration of art, fame, sibling relationships and friendship which give the novel its heft while keeping up a page-turning pace
Susan O, NetGalley
I absolutely loved this! What a fantastic plot, beautifully written, intertwining the relationships between the characters in such an ingenious and realistic way
Nadine R, NetGalley
This book is an absolutely sensational thrill ride from cover to cover
Carys K, NetGalley
A drop into a decade passed,
Stargazer treads that boundary between teenager and adulthood. With care, attention and beautifully written. This tension builder is a must read this summer
Lauren H, NetGalley
Stargazer was gripping right from the start and I couldnt put it down. It was chillingly atmospheric and well written with well developed characters
Aria H, NetGalley
Stargazer had such a haunting and intense atmosphere throughout
Eleanor S, NetGalley
Increasingly gripping
Rita M, NetGalley
More than friendship,
Stargazer is an interesting study on family, the legacy of celebrity, and the question of the subject of art
Marie A, NetGalley
I won't forget this book for a while and the sorrow & pain is tangible with this book. I can only hope that I'm not the only one who enjoyed this so much and hope this is a smash, because it absolutely deserves to be
Justin S, NetGalley
It pulled me in in the first few pages and I didn't want to put it down
Louisa T, NetGalley
PRESS REVIEWS FOR Stargazer
'Stargazer is a dark and dreamlike journey into the obsession, envy and love between two young friends in the 90s. The tension simmers in this atmospheric lake-side setting until the crushing end. Laurie Petrou's writing is melodic and immersive. A delicious read!'
- Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push
'The tense thriller... touted as the book to be seen with this summer'
- The Gloss (5 Beach Books to Pack for Your Summer Holiday)
'Petrou's lyrical writing is so powerful that I could smell the pines and feel the snow on my skin as she effortlessly transports the reader to 90s Muskoka'
- Toronto Life
'Laurie Petrou does something that feels as if it goes beyond writing in Stargazer... It's like a sculpture in word form.'
- Angus Batey, Quietus
'Laurie Petrou brilliantly showed the toxic side when a friendship goes sour'
- Kate Quinn, bestselling author of The Rose Code and The Alice Network
'This was a really fantastic thriller. I was totally shocked by where the story went. A cross between Gillian Flynn and Ann Patchett'
- Heather O'Neill
'Tense is an understatement when it comes to describing Stargazer. Dark, but written with elegance, Stargazer will have you hooked'
- Living North
'A stunning literary thriller - beautifully written with realistic yet incredibly flawed characters. A fascinating study of friendship, family, grief and ambition all woven together. Loved it'
- Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalet
A stunning literary thriller - beautifully written with realistic yet incredibly flawed characters. A fascinating study of friendship, family, grief and ambition all woven together. Loved it.
Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalet
'Intense, evocative and electric. Un-put-downable for fans of female-focused literary thrillers with coming-of-age edge'
- Love Reading (Literary Pick for June)
'Stargazer is gripping, with cuts between timelines and perspectives keeping the momentum consistent throughout. It revels in its heroines';?? successes and more so in their deepest, darkest moments; in a critical atmosphere given to purity culture, it is a nasty and needed breath of fresh air.'
- Carmen Paddock, Indiependent
'A lyrical, nuanced deep dive into female friendship and all of its messy complexities. Laurie Petrou writes with a sharp observational eye and lush, gorgeous prose. Stargazer is an emotional masterpiece, both gritty and incandescent at once'
- Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, bestselling author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here
'A sinuous, captivating exploration of the mysterious depths of female friendship that had me hooked from its first pages. The vivid, finely wrought setting - a prestigious, remote college campus - was a delicious reminder of another favourite novel, Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Petrou's dreamlike, note-perfect prose simmers toward a shattering conclusion. This unforgettable novel from a truly talented novelist is perfect for fans of Celeste Ng'
- Marissa Stapley, bestselling author of The Last Resort
'Stargazer entwines obsession, adulation and chilling female friendship into an enthralling, addictive read. Giving off strong The Secret History vibes, it drew me in from the first pages, and it'll make you want to be a 'Taylor girl', even though you know it's not a good idea'
- Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me
'Laurie Petrou has crafted a chilling look at the fine line between love and obsession, longing and desperation, ambition and mania. It's a look at the cusp of adulthood, when all things - beautiful and terrible - are possible. These women will haunt you'
- Gin Phillips, author of The Well and The Mine
'I came for the 90s nostalgia and that glorious cover, but I stayed for the complex female friendships. Stargazer by Laurie Petrou will pull you in this way and that until you don't know what to think, and then it will destroy you'
- Laura Pearson
'An outstanding book with some of the most beautiful lines I've ever read'
- Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge
Obsession, loneliness, and insecurity are at the center of Laurie Petrou's astonishing
Stargazer. This exceptional novel, set in the 90s in the tony town of Muskoka, is about the bonds and breaks of female friendship. Petrou's writing is so powerful that I could smell the pines and feel the snow on my skin. The story gradually unfurls, transfixing the reader on the characters' heartbreaking journeys, and we become absorbed in their struggles and triumphs. It's an outstanding book with some of the most beautiful lines I've ever read
Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge
'Stargazer is a slow-burn literary thriller in the best possible way: Eerie, beautiful, and impossible to put down. I loved it'
- Robyn Harding, International bestselling author, The Perfect Family
'Stargazer is a galaxy of a novel'
- Amy Stuart
Stargazer is a galaxy of a novel: At once a story of friendship, a coming of age, and a dark and utterly captivating tale of family, lust, loss, fame, art and the ever competing hope and destructiveness of youth. In her very best work yet, Laurie Petrou makes the absolute most of her setting and her two protagonists, Diana and Aurelle, to build a page-turner almost dreamlike in its plotting. I loved everything about this novel, from the characters, to the wild and atmospheric campus setting, to the pulsing 1990s era, to the portrayal of young womanhood that feels both too familiar and completely original. A darkly thrilling novel that warns us all: even the most kindred of friendships can burn you.
Amy Stuart
'Readers who loved Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend will love Stargazer, a haunting tale of female friendship that explores the delicate and dangerous territory - in art and in love - that lies between inspiration and exploitation'
- Heather Young, author of Sunday Times Book of the Month, The Lost Girls
