August 2022 review of Starry Eyes
Date- 8.16.22 - 8.17.22
Starry Eyes
Written by Jenn Bennet
About from Goodreads.com
Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.
But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
What could go wrong?
With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?
Review
This book is supposedly a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I can kinda see it, but the families' hate for each other is very one sided. It’s also not the entire family, it's just Zorie’s father that doesn't like the other family.
I usually talk about my likes and dislikes about a book before I talk about its rating, but I can’t think of a single thing I didn't like about this book. So I rate this book 5 out of 5. There is no question that I will be reading this book again (that is the only way a book can get a 5 out of 5). This book had me smiling the entire time and at some points laughing. It’s hard to even express how much I enjoyed this book.
One thing I liked is the little drawings of the backpacks and the maps, but like I’ve said before I love when books add maps. It aids in the visualization process of a book for me, which is the whole reason I read.
Another thing I absolutely loved is how three dimensional the characters are very realistic and lately I have been running into a few books where the characters aren’t very dimensional. The main character Zorie is really big into Astronomy and has to stick to a plan. While Lennon loves reptiles, especially snakes as well is surprisingly an avid backpacker.
The third thing I enjoyed was the ability to kind of go backpacking with the kids. I have always wanted to go backpacking, it's been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. Sadly, I don’t think I'll ever be able to because of my disability, so I am always happy to read books that are outdoorsy or the characters do something that I’ll probably never be able to do.
Dear Reader, I of course recommend this book for anyone who loves the idea of a backpacking romance or the Friends to Enemies to Lovers Trope.
Enjoyed
The art in the book
The maps
How this book made me smile the entire time
How the main characters are 3 dimensional. They have hobbies, dreams, drives
Disliked
Quotes I love
Amendment number thirteen. Thou shall arm yourself with machete and shotgun, and remember to aim for the head. - Lennon ( talking about zombies)
Keep my father’s name out of your mouth. -Zorie (If you get this your the best)
I wasn’t planning on inviting the bear along, but if you think we need a chaperone . . -Lennon
Survival is a beautiful thing
5 /5 ⭐️
Info
Trigger warning- Homophobia, Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes(I’m personally terrified of)), Suicide (mentioned), Loss of parents(I personally felt this with the passing of my stepfather), Grief Depiction
Spice level- 2/ 5 🌶
Numbers of pages- 421
Publish date- April 2018
Awards-Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee for Honorable Mention (2020) Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2012)
Genres- Romance, Young adult, Adventure
If you deal with suicidal thoughts call the national helpline-988
Please be safe you are loved, even if you don’t think you are. YOU ARE. YOU ARE IMPORTANT!
Check out my review blog at https://luimereviews.blogspot.com/
Comments
Post a Comment