The Pull of the Stars cover art

The Pull of the Stars

A gripping and deeply moving historical novel from the bestselling author of Room

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Pull of the Stars

By: Emma Donoghue
Narrated by: Emma Lowe
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £8.61

Buy Now for £8.61

Three days in a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu. The Pull of the Stars is the Sunday Times Bestseller from the acclaimed author of The Wonder and Room.

'An immersive, unforgettable fever-dream of a novel' – The Times

The old world dying on its feet, a new one struggling to be born . . .

Dublin, 1918. In a country doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city centre, where expectant mothers who have come down with an unfamiliar flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders: Doctor Kathleen Lynn, on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.

In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over the course of three days, these women change each other’s lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.

In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue tells an unforgettable and deeply moving story of love and loss.

Shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards -- Eason Novel of the Year
The Telegraph's 'Best Novels of 2020'
Guardian's 'Brilliant Books to Transport You This summer', 'Best Books of 2020'
Cosmopolitan's 'Best Books to Read this summer'
Stylist's 'Best summer Reads

 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Fiction World War I Romance Heartfelt Tear-jerking
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

A visceral, harrowing, and revelatory vision of life, death, and love in a time of pandemic. This novel is stunning (Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven)
The Pull of the Stars has a fever dream-like quality . . . as a tender record of humans coping as best they can with a pandemic, it’s about as moving and absorbing as it gets
A timely, exquisite and unputdownable reminder of love and compassion in the smallest room where women are giving birth and other women are dying and yet love - in all its joy and complexity - still finds a place (Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry)
Extraordinarily prescient . . . With The Pull of the Stars, [Donoghue] again conjures up a setting that is at once claustrophobic in feel yet epic in sweep
Donoghue writes with such brilliant relish . . . fascinating and resonant
Eerily topical, Donoghue’s new novel reads like an episode of Call The Midwife set during a pandemic . . . It is some cocktail and Donoghue mixes the ingredients with impressive skill
Remarkably prescient
One of the Emerald Isle’s most glittering literary lights, Donoghue here delivers a historical fiction turned timely reminder of human resilience
It is rare for such a fast-paced story to be told so beautifully, and the writing is comical & exquisite
Moving, gripping and dazzlingly written
As strong and compelling as Jack in Room and Lib in The Wonder . . . a haunting and finely balanced literary novel (Sarah Moss)
Certainly, the currency of The Pull of the Stars gives it a gripping edge, but at its heart this is a story about friendship, love and compassion in extraordinary times . . . It's an engrossing read. Donoghue's writing is visceral and her female characters strike a powerful chord of humanity that stays with you
Donoghue offers vivid characters and a gripping portrait of a world beset by a pandemic and political uncertainty. A fascinating read in these difficult times.
Narrator Emma Lowe's layered characterizations include distinct Irish accents and diction that illuminate the backgrounds of the protagonists and hospital staff. The pregnant women in their care are depicted with particular sensitivity; their pain, joy, and loss are all keenly felt. As circumstances around the women intensify, so will listeners' investment in the outcomes of their stories.
Donoghue’s searing tale . . . Her blunt prose and detailed, painstakingly researched medical descriptions do full justice to the reality of the pandemic and the poverty that helps fuel it. Donoghue’s evocation of the 1918 flu, and the valor it demands of health-care workers, will stay with readers
All stars
Most relevant
The story is beautifully written. Unfortunately I struggled to listen to the stunted narration by Emma Lowe. There was no flow, it was difficult to fall into the story as she read like she'd never seen it before. There was no emphasis or emotion.

Beautiful story, dreadful narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The similarities and differences between the current pandemic and the last, and the parallels and differences between maternity wards then and now, are the fascinating back drop for the compelling story. The central character is wonderfully cynical and kind in equal measure and a fresh voice. The writing is beautiful with quirky fun too.

The whole thing is brought to life by Emma Lowe’s brilliant reading and pitch perfect Irish accents and voices.

Not recommended for women who are considering having a baby soon!

Fascinating, beautiful, compelling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A bit of a slow starter, but this book is a proper gem!
Could not put it down.

A gem

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As a retired nurse I found this book fascinating. The comparisons between the management of the Spanish flu epidemic, and the current covid 19 are interesting.
the characters are authentic and well rounded.

a wonderful account of nursing and midwifery

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a beautifully written story.. An education about the period, the state of medicine in 1918, the history of Ireland, and what a bloody awful business childbirth is. Any woman who hears this, who has had or might have a child of their own would be very grateful to be living in our 21st century era of medicine (if they live with access to that medicine of course). There are fairly graphic descriptions of childbirth and sickness a century ago... It's gripping and terrible and sad. But, this is not a grim story and the quality of the writing helps to keep you gripped and emotionally involved. There are uplifting moments, brilliant characters and heartstopping moments... it's far from a depressing story...
Great reader too...
Basically, I recommend it massively... With only one reservation (and criticism)...

**Spoilers ahead**

.... a couple of hours after finishing, I'm a bit down about the conclusion.
Why the need to end it that way I'm not sure... It seemed unnecessarily cruel and rushed :(
The story needed a happier ending. Otherwise, write a non fiction history!


Moving, shocking, gutting... Beautifully written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews