Rewrite the Stars

Author: Lindsay Hameroff Title: Rewrite the Stars Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Date Published: 07/07/2026

Read Dates: 06/05/2026- 06/06/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

Rewrite the Stars is a dual POV small town summer romance. Semi-retired actress Marissa is looking for a way to protect her kids from the paparazzi frenzy stirred up when her ex-husband becomes engaged to a high profile star, so she takes them the the lake house she inherited from her grandmother. The crew she hired to do a little work on the property is headed up by Jesse, a man who’s presence is comfortably familiar even if she can’t pinpoint why. Jesse knows Marissa, though, not just as the famous actress, but also as the little girl who used to visit the lake each summer until she moved to California. The two reconnect, but Marissa is trying to figure out how to balance her children’s needs, co-parenting with an inconsiderate ex, and reviving her career, and she’s not sure if she can fit “falling in love with the kind and handsome contractor” in the mix!

I really enjoyed this take on an estranged childhood friends to lovers romance. I loved the compassionate autism representation for Levi (Marissa’s son) and how it showed the difficulty of navigating complicated family relationships. I loved that it focused on the importance of not losing your identity, and Jesse and his family were able to help Marissa feel seen and strong enough to go after her own goals.

Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.

The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.

Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.

As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.

After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa's lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?