The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson

The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds is a hypnotic debut novel about love, guilt, and forgiveness, perfect for fans of Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro.

Crushed by guilt, Thea flees her life in New Zealand and escapes to Central America. In Guatemala, she meets the charismatic Chris and his partner, Sarah. Amid the dark volcanic beauty of the highlands, and while the rest of the world reels from the global financial crisis, the three form a tight bond in the hedonistic backpacker town of San Pedro. For a moment, Thea begins to make peace with her past, until tragedy shatters their fragile world.

Unable to return home, Thea rebuilds her life in Tasmania, forging a new relationship in Hobart. But years later, when tragedy strikes again, long-buried grief, guilt, and unanswered questions resurface. Set against the backdrop of the pandemic and lockdowns, Thea begins to doubt the trust she has placed in her partner. To uncover the truth, she must finally confront the secrets she’s carried for years.