Author event! Ethan Joella with J. Ryan Stradal

Zibby's Bookshop is excited to host Ethan Joella as he celebrates the launch of THE SAME BRIGHT STARS. Ethan will be joined in conversation by J. Ryan Stradal!

About:

From the author of the Read with Jenna Bonus Pick A Little Hope, an uplifting and emotionally resonant novel set in a Delaware beach town about a local restaurant owner at a turning point.

Three generations of Schmidts have run their family's beachfront restaurant and Jack has been at the helm since the death of his father. Jack puts the demands of the restaurant above all else, with a string of failed relationships, no hobbies, and no days off as proof of his commitment to the place. He can't remember the last time he sat on the beach, or even enjoyed a moment to himself.

Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been gradually snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast and are pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt's off his hands.

Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders if closing the door on the restaurant might open a new window for him. But who would he be without Schmidt's, and can he trust DelDine's claims that they will continue to employ his staff and honor his family's legacy?

When he receives startling news from the past, Jack begins to reshape his life and forge unexpected new friendships. But will he really let go of the very things that have defined him?

About the authors:

Ethan Joella teaches English and psychology at the University of Delaware. He is the author of A Little Hope, which was a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection, A Quiet Life, and The Same Bright Stars. He lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his wife and two daughters.

J. Ryan Stradal is the author of New York Times bestseller Kitchens of the Great Midwest, which won the Midwest Booksellers Choice Award and the American Booksellers Association Indie's Choice Award for Adult Debut Book of the Year. His second novel, the national bestseller The Lager Queen of Minnesota, won the WILLA Literary Award and was a finalist for the Heartland Booksellers Award. His newest novel is the instant national bestseller Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, which was also a finalist for the Heartland Booksellers Award. His shorter writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Granta, The Rumpus, and The Guardian, among other places. Born and raised in Minnesota, he now lives with his family in California.

Host or Publisher Zibby's Bookshop