Reviews
“The Destiny of Our Stars” is an excellent read about the step-by-step journey of the grieving process. It reminds us that time does not heal all wounds, but requires a steady grip on the shock, numbness, and emotional highs and lows it deals one. The author, Greta McNeill-Moretti, fluidly takes the reader through not just the ups and downs of her grief of losing her husband, and love of her life, but also her life’s journey that brought her there. She keeps the well-written narrative interesting, intriguing, and at times hysterical. Reading this book will make you realize that grief does not follow a predictable path, but is a process of adjustment.
– Thomas E. Mullin, Advance Reader
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McNeill-Moretti discusses processing the loss of her husband in this inspirational memoir. The author lost Lawrence, her husband of nearly 44 years, after his protracted battle with brain cancer. An endless checklist of obligations carried her through the last phases of his illness and the first months after his death, but eventually, the loss caught up with her. “I kept busy going about my daily life, and constantly blamed myself for things that were completely out of my control,” she writes. In this memoir, McNeill-Moretti reflects on how the events of her life prepared her to handle widowhood and aided the author in her long journey to a state of healthy acceptance. McNeill-Moretti’s confessional prose blends introspection with a kind of spiritual poetry: “I’m grateful I found the way back to my life, albeit I know I will never be the same person I once was,” she writes. “I’ve archived those sad days into a space somewhere in the back of my mind where they belong.” There are funny moments as well to balance out the sad in this raw, unique, and distinctive memoir of loss and change.
– Kirkus Reviews
Greta McNeill-Moretti’s The Destiny of Our Stars is a heartfelt memoir about love, loss, and renewal. At its core, it’s the story of a woman navigating widowhood after losing her soulmate, Lawrence, to brain cancer. The book moves from raw grief to spiritual awakening, with reflections on fate, synchronicity, and the mysterious ways the universe brings meaning to suffering. It’s not just a chronicle of mourning; it’s a roadmap through the darkest corners of heartbreak toward the quiet light of acceptance and hope.
The author writes with such sincerity that I often felt like I was sitting across from her, listening to her unpack her life. Her words are simple, but they cut deep. I admired how she didn’t shy away from the messy parts, depression, guilt, the confusion of still wanting to live when your reason for living is gone. She uses humor in surprising places, and it works. It keeps the story grounded and human. Sometimes her honesty stings, but
that’s what makes it beautiful. It’s a book that feels lived, not written from a distance.
What really stayed with me was her belief in synchronicity and destiny. I was moved by her conviction. It’s impossible not to root for her as she rebuilds her world, piece by piece. Her reflections on love extend beyond romance. She writes about compassion, family, and friendship in ways that make you think about your own life. At times, the detail is overwhelming. But I think that’s part of the magic. She doesn’t let you skim through her pain. She makes you sit with it, the way grief makes you sit still until you learn to move again.
I’d recommend The Destiny of Our Stars to anyone who has lost someone they love or who simply wants to understand what real resilience looks like. It’s for people who appreciate writing that’s emotional but never self-pitying, and who don’t mind tears mixed with laughter. This book is raw, deeply personal, and surprisingly comforting. It reminds you that even when life shatters, the pieces can still reflect light.
– Thomas Anderson
Editor In Chief
Literary Titan