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

“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

“Shooting Stars Above is one of the most important literary works you’ll ever read and the must-read book of the year. It had my whole heart; I could not put it down, and it stayed with me. Read this—you’ll be so glad you did. Highly recommended!” —Jessie Voigts, PhD, founder of Wandering Educators

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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