An Astonishment of Stars

"A beautifully written short story collection that charts the lives of racialized women as they navigate their relationships, aspirations, and the burdens of memory and expectations."

The buzz:

• Beautifully written review by Salma Hussain for Temz Review (Dec 2024)

• On the 49th Shelf list of Books of the Year for 2024

• Top Ten Bestseller on The Hamilton Review of Books' List of independent presses in Canada (October 2024)

• Bookspo Podcast chat with the amazing Kerry Clare (October 2024)

• CBC Books Canadian Books We Can't Wait to Read this October (October 2024)

• All Lit Up 16 books to read for Women's History Month (October 2024) 

• Listen to my interview and hear a section of the audiobook  on the podcast Short Story Today (September 2024)

• She Does the City Most Anticipated Book Fall 2024 (September 2024)

• Literary Hub "From the Novel" Excerpt (August 30, 2024)

• CBC Books 63 Canadian Fiction Books to Read in Fall 2024 (August 2024)

• Listed as an Indigo Most Anticipated Canadian book (June 2024)

"Grasping onto the familiar and the ordinary, author Bhadresa spins tales of women of color navigating girlhood, familial expectations, and romance. She holds relationships with mothers and sisters up to the light, peering at conflicting or hidden emotions...Perfect for readers of incisive stories, this collection gently unravels the everyday dilemmas in modern BIPOC families."

— Booklist Review by Allison Cho, September 15, 2024

“To be a contemporary racialized woman is to be noticed but also invisible, and Bhadresa deftly explores these paradoxical spaces. A gorgeously observed collection by a wonderfully gifted writer.” 

— Lindsay Wong, author of The Woo-Woo and Tell Me Pleasant Things about Immortality: Stories

“In stories that can encompass a novel’s worth of time and events, Kirti Bhadresa melds style and sincerity with her focused craft. With vivid insight into labour, family and different forms of exile, Bhadresa finds light in the imperfect, real lives of her characters.” 

— Naben Ruthnum, author of Helpmeet

“From rebellious teens to a levitating aunty, An Astonishment of Stars brings us unforgettable characters in stories ranging from the everyday to the fantastical. A great talent and a great read.” 

— Naheed Nenshi, former mayor of Calgary

“Each of these stories is a small miracle, and I can’t wait to see where Bhadresa’s own star catapults from here.” 

— Amy Jones, author of Pebble & Dove and Every Little Piece of Me

“Sharply observed and gracefully told, Bhadresa offers a collection shining with all the unexpected delights and defeats that make up a life.” 

— Anuja Varghese, author of Chrysalis