Shooting Stars Above - (The Celestial Bodies Romances) by Patricia Leavy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Colleen Hoover comes an emotionally charged contemporary romance about an internationally best-selling novelist and a federal agent fighting to heal past wounds.

Tess Lee is a world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore people's innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel--but despite her extraordinary success, she's been unable to find personal happiness. Jack Miller is a federal agent working in counterterrorism. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. He's dedicated everything to his job, leaving nothing for himself.

The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars on his body and says, "I've never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides." The two embark on an epic love story, but old traumas soon rise to the surface as Jack struggles with the death of a loved one and Tess is forced to confront her childhood abuse. Can unconditional love help heal their invisible wounds? Together, will they be able to move from darkness to light?

Review Quotes

Featured on Resident Magazine "Best Books of The Summer 2025."
Featured on People "10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry."
Featured on She Knows "Celebrate World Book Day with These 13 New Spring Releases."
2025 Firebird Book Award First Place Winner in Contemporary Novel, Romance, and Summer Beach Read
Featured on BRIT & CO "12 Empowering Books with Strong Female Leads to Read in 2025."
Featured on Ms. Career Girl "A Book for Every Type of Reader to Kick off 2025."
Featured on She Knows "22 Incredible New Books That You'll Want to Get Your Hands on in 2025."
2024 Literary Titan Book Awards Silver Winner

". . . there is an alluring hopefulness to the work . . . Beyond the romantic themes, the narrative does manage to tackle several other difficult issues with grace, ranging from grief and self-doubt to self-love and second chances."--Kirkus Reviews

"Patricia Leavy crafts a riveting narrative that shows the healing power of love and how it helps wounded souls become whole once again."--Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"For readers seeking a story that restores faith in humanity and shines a light on the beauty of connection, this novel is a must-read."--Literary Titan

"Start early evening because once you dive into Patricia's book, you're going to want to keep turning the pages because that's how alluring it is."--John Busbee, founder and producer of The Culture Buzz

"For so many of us, perhaps all of us, life is challenging as we learn to live through and with trauma, grief, and loss. Shooting Stars Above shows us how to thrive through unconditional love. Read this book--it will crack your heart wide open." --Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

"The strongest book I've ever read . . . It gave me hope and made me remember why all kinds of love are worth fighting for."--The Book Revue, 5-star review

"Shooting Stars Above is one of the grandest love stories of all time. It celebrates the power and agency of love to hold its own against the darkest forces of hatred and violence. It will make your heart smile." --Eve Spangler, Associate Professor of Sociology, Boston College

"Shooting Stars Above defies category. It grabs hold of your emotions and doesn't let go even after you turn the last page. Leavy's most powerful work to date takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and leaves you with a brighter sense of the world and the people who quietly make it better." --U. Melissa Anyiwo, editor of Gender Warriors

"Shooting Stars Above draws you into its heart and holds you there tightly. Leavy has once again managed to weave her magic through a story that touches on hugely important themes and contemporary issues. Luckily, this is only the first book in a breathtaking series which I have read in full. Each novel is better than the last."--Alexandra Lasczik, coauthor of Walking with A/r/tography

"Shooting Stars Above grabbed and shook me in a way most novels do not. The deepest cuts came from Leavy's frankly audacious creation of space for trauma processing and healing as priorities in daily life, rather than the afterthoughts they often become in a world that expects us to smile through pain. It is this sense of empathy for self that haunts me most after reading, and that will likely linger in surprising ways." --Alexandra "Xan" Nowakowski, coauthor of Other People's Oysters

"Leavy has done what she does best: write a story that you won't be able to put down until you finish the final sentence. Shooting Stars Above is a love story about friendship and real romance, but most importantly, it is a story about learning to love ourselves, the most difficult love of all." --Sandra L. Faulkner, author of Poetic Inquiry: Craft, Method, and Practice

"Leavy's writing is realistic and compassionate. Shooting Stars Above is a heartfelt story of love, grief, friendship, and survival that will make you laugh, cry, and most of all feel truly alive. I really loved this book." --J. E. Sumerau, author of Transmission

"Tess's journey and her love for humanity have permeated my very soul. As you turn the last page of this beautifully crafted story, you know the healing process has really just begun. Brava, Patricia Leavy! This story has left an indelible mark on my soul." --Renita M. Davis, LICSW, PIP, Creatrix, Illuminated Expressions, LLC

"While Tess Lee and Jack Miller are healing from past trauma, they learn to love each other in extraordinary ways. This is a wonderful book that you will relish. Read it on your own or in book clubs." --Jessica Smartt Gullion, author of October Birds

About the Author

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than forty books and has received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and more. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women's Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz when they established the "Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice" and in 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research. Her website is www.patricialeavy.com. She lives in Kennebunk, Maine.