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dreamer4ever's review against another edition
5.0
I have loved this author since I read The Bronze Horseman many years ago. I've been a part of this world in Lone Star for the last week, it's a bit of a long book, a little over 600 pages, I feel like I lived in this book, like I know these people, I loved this story. It is a wonderful coming of age novel that about killed me with the ending but things have a way sometimes of turning out for what we don't know we need, it was bittersweet. I will hopefully have the pleasure of reading all of the authors books during my lifetime, she is just sensational.
eantoinette285's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely adored every minute I spent with Chloe traipsing across Europe. Being with her and her friends made me realize that I don’t miss those teen years where kids are petty about every little thing. Chloe’s friends were no different. They knew how and when to bring the drama with them as they moved.
It’s when they met Johnny Rainbow on a train that things begin to change. Each character began to face realizations about themselves and about each other. There’s nothing like traveling with others to make you realize what kind of people you’ve surrounded yourself with.
I enjoyed getting more history lessons from Simons and her characters as they moved through Poland and other areas of Europe to visit family and locations that impacted humanity and left their dark marks in the world. Chloe’s friend Hannah might not have appreciated the group’s excursions but I certainly did. Once Johnny was in the picture, he brought both knowledge and incredible tension to the little group. Still, I enjoyed witnessing Chloe being so disgusted by him and then slowly evolve to become totally enthralled by him.
It’s when things go awry in Europe and everyone eventually makes it back state-side that life shifts gears completely. All the craziness Chloe, Hannah, their boyfriends Mason and Blake, and their latest companion, Johnny have to endure in trying to move from city-to-city causes them to grow apart more than come together. Once they’re home again, they’re not the happy quartet they once were and adulthood shifts their perspectives on life.
Chloe and Johnny are from two different worlds, and she spends her college years trying to find him again, and that research and adventure leads her to things and people she never thought she’d find.
This was a longer story, almost 700 pages, but listening to it on Audible just made it feel so magical for me. Paullina is absolutely phenomenal with her words. I did compare this story to The Bronze Horseman a LOT because that series is one of my favorites and I wanted the same feeling of enchantment to wash over me with this book too, and it did, in its own way. I won’t give anything away because the last thing I want to do is spoil this for you, but if you are a fan of The Bronze Horseman trilogy, you need to give this a go. I promise, the comparisons and familiarity is there for a reason and you won’t be disappointed when you get closer to the end of the story.
Lone Star was filled with adventure, friendship, romance, tragedy, history, and utter heartbreak, but my goodness, with the good and the bad combined, it was an absolutely fantastic journey.
If you’re looking for something to read this weekend, look no further and check out this utterly gorgeous story!
It’s when they met Johnny Rainbow on a train that things begin to change. Each character began to face realizations about themselves and about each other. There’s nothing like traveling with others to make you realize what kind of people you’ve surrounded yourself with.
I enjoyed getting more history lessons from Simons and her characters as they moved through Poland and other areas of Europe to visit family and locations that impacted humanity and left their dark marks in the world. Chloe’s friend Hannah might not have appreciated the group’s excursions but I certainly did. Once Johnny was in the picture, he brought both knowledge and incredible tension to the little group. Still, I enjoyed witnessing Chloe being so disgusted by him and then slowly evolve to become totally enthralled by him.
It’s when things go awry in Europe and everyone eventually makes it back state-side that life shifts gears completely. All the craziness Chloe, Hannah, their boyfriends Mason and Blake, and their latest companion, Johnny have to endure in trying to move from city-to-city causes them to grow apart more than come together. Once they’re home again, they’re not the happy quartet they once were and adulthood shifts their perspectives on life.
Chloe and Johnny are from two different worlds, and she spends her college years trying to find him again, and that research and adventure leads her to things and people she never thought she’d find.
This was a longer story, almost 700 pages, but listening to it on Audible just made it feel so magical for me. Paullina is absolutely phenomenal with her words. I did compare this story to The Bronze Horseman a LOT because that series is one of my favorites and I wanted the same feeling of enchantment to wash over me with this book too, and it did, in its own way. I won’t give anything away because the last thing I want to do is spoil this for you, but if you are a fan of The Bronze Horseman trilogy, you need to give this a go. I promise, the comparisons and familiarity is there for a reason and you won’t be disappointed when you get closer to the end of the story.
Lone Star was filled with adventure, friendship, romance, tragedy, history, and utter heartbreak, but my goodness, with the good and the bad combined, it was an absolutely fantastic journey.
If you’re looking for something to read this weekend, look no further and check out this utterly gorgeous story!
boredgoldfish's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wasn't expecting how serious it was, but a romance book I couldn't put down.
sarcrawsh's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I didn't realize this was a YA book, and was hoping for an epic similar to TBH. But it's definitely not. The kids, minus Blake, are spoiled and whiny at the beginning of the story, especially Hannah. It was hard to like them. But they gradually got better, particularly Chloe, which is good since she's the primary storyteller.
Johnny is quite the interesting character. I had some guesses about how everything would turn out, and most of them came true (minus Mason being gay. Totally thought he was). I was absolutely slammed over the head with Johnny's true identity, though I probably should have seen it coming.
Johnny is quite the interesting character. I had some guesses about how everything would turn out, and most of them came true (minus Mason being gay. Totally thought he was). I was absolutely slammed over the head with Johnny's true identity, though I probably should have seen it coming.
lisah04's review against another edition
4.0
After finishing Lone Star, I had a major book hangover. It took me 4 days to pick up something new. Paullina Simons seems to have that affect on me - first with The Bronze Horseman series and now Lone Star.
Chloe Divine is graduating from college and dreams of traveling to Spain with her friends before starting a life on her own. Her grandmother offers to pay for the trip, with conditions attached. Before Spain, Chloe and her friends must visit Eastern Europe. There, Chloe meets Johnny Rainbow, a street musician/tour guide/bad boy.
Unlike other reviewers, I was hooked from the very beginning. When Johnny entered the picture, I wasn't so sure I wanted him to be a part of Chloe's life.
Fans of The Bronze Horseman will enjoy a nod to the story at the end of Lone Star.
Chloe Divine is graduating from college and dreams of traveling to Spain with her friends before starting a life on her own. Her grandmother offers to pay for the trip, with conditions attached. Before Spain, Chloe and her friends must visit Eastern Europe. There, Chloe meets Johnny Rainbow, a street musician/tour guide/bad boy.
Unlike other reviewers, I was hooked from the very beginning. When Johnny entered the picture, I wasn't so sure I wanted him to be a part of Chloe's life.
Fans of The Bronze Horseman will enjoy a nod to the story at the end of Lone Star.
l1ndz7's review against another edition
2.5
this book surprised me in the worst way lol the last quarter of the book was amazing but not enough to make up for the first three quarters I had to struggle through
paulina_aspiringliterati's review against another edition
5.0
7 stars. But in truth? ONE HUNDRED THIRTY SIX STARS.
Paullina Simons broke my heart. Again. Again after 8 years since I read "The Bronze Horseman" for the first time. But that broken heart got mended, by her conclusion to that story; in the end, it was alright, broken hearts are worth it if the story's worth the wait. That broken heart lived happily ever after in the desert of Arizona, together, love eternally steaming with life.
NOW this broken heart is forever broken. Selfless love is beautiful. Helluva beautiful. But then again it broke me to pieces, ones never to be mended again because Johnny, Johnny Rainbow, I weep for you. I wish he had saved himself for... himself. I wish he could have had himself. I wish he had kept his promise and found himself, too. Not just love when love isn't enough, especially one you can't have, one that isn't his to have.
So I weep. Even though life is beautiful.
[edited on April 29th]
I find myself browsing other readers' reviews and it feels like mine is lacking. I'd like it to encompass everything this book is and thus every core character. But I can't make it happen. I can't stop thinking of Johnny Rainbow shredding his throat in pouring rain as he sang Trent Reznor's "Hurt". To listen to this song on full volume on your earphones is one thing, to imagine it being sung by a lone rock star is another. I cannot not make it about Johnny. He's the catalyst and, the core and center of this story as he should be. He is Chloe's way of becoming who she was meant to be become.
And still, I weep for him.
Paullina Simons broke my heart. Again. Again after 8 years since I read "The Bronze Horseman" for the first time. But that broken heart got mended, by her conclusion to that story; in the end, it was alright, broken hearts are worth it if the story's worth the wait. That broken heart lived happily ever after in the desert of Arizona, together, love eternally steaming with life.
NOW this broken heart is forever broken. Selfless love is beautiful. Helluva beautiful. But then again it broke me to pieces, ones never to be mended again because Johnny, Johnny Rainbow, I weep for you. I wish he had saved himself for... himself. I wish he could have had himself. I wish he had kept his promise and found himself, too. Not just love when love isn't enough, especially one you can't have, one that isn't his to have.
So I weep. Even though life is beautiful.
[edited on April 29th]
I find myself browsing other readers' reviews and it feels like mine is lacking. I'd like it to encompass everything this book is and thus every core character. But I can't make it happen. I can't stop thinking of Johnny Rainbow shredding his throat in pouring rain as he sang Trent Reznor's "Hurt". To listen to this song on full volume on your earphones is one thing, to imagine it being sung by a lone rock star is another. I cannot not make it about Johnny. He's the catalyst and, the core and center of this story as he should be. He is Chloe's way of becoming who she was meant to be become.
And still, I weep for him.
libbysbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
The first 100 pages felt like a waste, the characters were annoying and I wanted them to go away a lot of the time.
The reason this book got 4 stars and not the 2 I wanted to give it for most of the time was because of the ending. If you are a Paullina Simons fan, you will melt when you read the end of this book. I was so emotional, I couldn't talk when my husband asked what happened. Still now I smile when I think of it.
The travelling and European cities were pretty cool; Simons's forte.
I wouldn't recommend to anyone unless they were a fan, but if you are a fan...!
The reason this book got 4 stars and not the 2 I wanted to give it for most of the time was because of the ending. If you are a Paullina Simons fan, you will melt when you read the end of this book. I was so emotional, I couldn't talk when my husband asked what happened. Still now I smile when I think of it.
The travelling and European cities were pretty cool; Simons's forte.
I wouldn't recommend to anyone unless they were a fan, but if you are a fan...!
snooty1's review
5.0
My heart is so full and bursting right now I seriously can't even think.
I'm in love.
Ok..I'm ready to review...
DON'T READ THIS REVIEW...DON'T READ ANY REVIEWS...JUST READ THE F*CKING BOOK!!!!!
Trust me...I trusted my friends and it was the best advice. Once your done...go nuts...read every review...but you won't be able to, because your mind and heart will have just exploded!!!!
I FEEL so much right now...so much...READ THIS BOOK. You'll thank me later...once you're able to talk to people after your amazing book hangover. (In the best possible way)!!! I already feel badly for the next book I read.
I'm in love.
Ok..I'm ready to review...
DON'T READ THIS REVIEW...DON'T READ ANY REVIEWS...JUST READ THE F*CKING BOOK!!!!!
Trust me...I trusted my friends and it was the best advice. Once your done...go nuts...read every review...but you won't be able to, because your mind and heart will have just exploded!!!!
I FEEL so much right now...so much...READ THIS BOOK. You'll thank me later...once you're able to talk to people after your amazing book hangover. (In the best possible way)!!! I already feel badly for the next book I read.