Staff Review: THE STARS LOOK LIKE HOME

THE STARS LOOK LIKE HOME by TJ Klune
9781250881175
1/12/27
Wildthorn
Fiction / Animals / Fantasy / LGBTQ+

TJ Klune never fails to pull on my heartstrings while also making me think more broadly about the world around me, and THE STARS LOOK LIKE HOME was no exception! In fact, the uniqueness of the POV in this book led me to view life, death, and purpose in a way I had never imagined before.

This beautiful story is told entirely from the point of view of Burke, a shollie mix, and follows his journey of finding home. As a young pup, Burke’s mother tells him that dogs’ lives are like the stars in the sky. And so, naturally, Burke believes he is immortal and will live forever. But when he discovers that dogs are indeed not immortal and, in fact, have pretty short lives, he sets off to find his purpose in life. After spending time in different homes, he ends up finding his person, a philosophy professor named Jake, who has been struggling with his own sense of belonging and grief. Burke is soon determined that his place is to help his person find happiness so that when he eventually does pass, Jake will still have happiness in his life. And so, Burke learns that humans need other humans in their lives, and he sets off through the dog park to search for a good human for Jake. And perhaps the kind man who likes to sit in the park and read with his reclusive dog by his side might be the one. But then when Jake and Burke are tragically separated, Burke is sent on an incredible journey through the wilderness and must follow the stars to find home again.

Burke is the most loving, thoughtful, and curious mind to journey through this story with. His curiosity about everything around him and the love that exudes from every action are so special. Throughout the book, I found myself smiling at the energy of playful pups making friends while also becoming contemplative about the philosophy of life and death. But it was the emotional pull of, yes, heartbreak, but mostly happiness that had me crying as I reached the final pages. I already want to go back and dive into Burke’s story again.

This book is warm and emotional and explores themes of grief, family, mental health, and the power of a loving pet. It is a comfort read, and let me assure you: the dog does not die in this one. Now please go pick up this incredible book while I go give my dog, Maverick, all the hugs and belly rubs.

Happy reading!
<3 Hallie ( & Maverick 🐾)

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“TJ Klune brings fathoms of wit and warmth to his canine narrator’s all-too-relatable mind-reel. Anyone who’s ever cared deeply for a pet will nod along on every page. But beneath the entertaining point of view lies a beautiful and nuanced exploration of grief and vulnerability that brought me to tears.”—Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times Bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

“In Burke, we have a new contender for best fictional dog of all time. Vividly imagined, with a serious underpinning of existential philosophy, The Stars Look Like Home is a must-read for anyone who loves a good dog story.”—Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of One Good Dog