Reviews

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

christiana's review against another edition

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5.0

So this was great. I'm blown away by how Jenn Bennet gets better and better for me (I accidentally read all her books and every book gets an additional star). You know a book is good when even a subject you hate (like, say, camping) come to life and make you think "maybe I want to go camping now?" which wrecks everything you thought you knew about yourself. I loved how teen sex was dealt with here-it kind of read like a realistic best-case-scenario with all the feelings of less best case scenarios being acknowledged through thought process (you'll know what I mean when you read it). I liked how multi-faceted these characters were without it being a Big Deal, both in personality and in families and ethnic backgrounds. I gobbled this down in two days flat and that was because I was rationing it to last longer!

em_green's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

timvindigni's review against another edition

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3.0

It was cute but my copy had SO many typos.

papertraildiary's review against another edition

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4.0

I didn't love this as much as Alex, Approximately but I did really like it! Jenn has such a way of making these perfect characters and plopping them in these crazy situations. She also has a way of making California seem so magical. This was fun! I also liked the dynamic of the MCs and their parents.

sammy_tro08's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 ⭐️

This was so wholesome (but also

grilledcheetah's review against another edition

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3.0

Honestly it wasn’t that memorable.
They were cute and all, but I think I spent most of the book comparing it to Alex, Approximately and I LOVED that story; therefore, this just fell short. Lennon also reminded me of this guy that screwed me over :) so that kind of ruined this too. I’m aware both of these things are my fault but it still had an effect on my view of the book nonetheless.
It was still cute and I’ll still continue reading all of her books, but this just wasn’t for me.

leasockzoe's review against another edition

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4.0

Who wants a modern day Romeo and Juliet love story with an intensely organized Juliet and a goth Romeo??? Ugh yes, I'll take one. This short, fast and not to mention cute read has so much to offer. The friends to enemies to lovers troupe, a Korean mother, a queer couple (who own a sex shop yet to boot), SAFE SEX POSITIVE THEMES, science, and the great outdoors. This book was a refreshing YA romance that reminded readers to just go with the flow. I can't wait to read more from Jenn Bennett. Highly recommend.

P.S. The beginning of page 389 had me choking for 5 minutes.

TW: suicide, death of a parent, cheating, being stranded

steph01924's review against another edition

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5.0

I knew I was going to like this book before I read it but I didn't know I was going to LOVE it. Bennett has a way of writing such realistic moments but still keeping some of that "magic"...AKA this isn't a total gritty this. is. LIFE. kinda story but it still has a crap ton of moments that feel so true. There were at least three or four moments when a character did something that I was like, yep, yep, I definitely felt/thought that way as a teenager.

The relationship between Lennon and Zorie was so good, y'all. This makes camping look like a good idea (which, to someone who is the best mosquito attractor you will ever meet, is not a good idea).

Also, this has nothing to do with the story, but books like this are so much better when you've been to some of the locations and can easily picture the setting (the characters live around San Francisco and drive up to and walk around in the Sierras. That boring drive with nothing but flat farmland and tiny gas stations and then suddenly stunning mountains--yep, that's exactly what it was like).

Just go read it.

luciearan's review against another edition

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3.0

Nebylo to špatné čtení, naopak na YA contemporary, překvapivě originální, hlavně tedy stran prostředí. Ale je fakt, že ve svém věku už tak trochu nahlížím na celou knihu spíše pohledem rodičů a to ho v mých očích poněkud sráží. Pevně ale věřím, že být mi -náct, zaujal by mě daleko víc.

lilifane's review

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I usually don't read many contemporary novels, and even less YA contemporaty, but I really enjoyed this one. I gave it a try because of the hiking/wilderness part of the plot, and this was excellent. Sooo good. The nature descriptions alone gave me wanderlust. I was also rooting for the main romance, and there were some pretty important discussions as well. It was a little too dramatic and convenient and dragged a bit at the beginning and end... but for YA, I think this was pretty good.