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kyouen's review
4.0
My reviews are first published on [a cup of tea and an armful of books].
Starstruck is the first book that I received through The Book Robin Hoods, a group of authors and reviewers started by M.C. Frank. More information on my own involvement may be found here and here.
*
Sally's life is not going according to plans. A college dropout, she's barely able to hold down a steady job and keep a roommate to help pay the rent. When Sally loses her job, it seems like everything is going from bad to worse––culminating in her hitting someone with her car. But it's not just any someone. He happens to be an alien. She beyond relieved when there seems to be no lasting damage, and she thinks this weird encounter is the last of it. But when he calls her to bail her out of jail, she realizes that hitting him with her car was only the beginning. Starstruck is a fun and fast-paced read that keeps the reader engaged in the story as Sally tries to figure out where she fits into this larger universe that's suddenly open to her.
Zander is the other main character in Starstruck, and the main cause of Sally's woes. Although Zander looks human, he still has a lot to learn about being human. I really enjoyed the chaos that he caused in Sally's life because of that; I loved reading how she had to teach him how to wear clothes properly and the socially accepted way of bathing. It was entertaining to read. I liked that he didn't instinctively know what to do.
S.E. Anderson's writing was great. I felt like the humor was genuine and I enjoyed the mixups that sometimes occurred between Sally and Zander. The words and the story flowed together nicely, giving the reader a fully coherent story that had me curious about the larger world contained but not explained. It looks like the next books in the series will be about this world that S.E. Anderson created. I was glad that the book was focused like this. It made the book more detailed because it focused on one place instead of focusing on it all at once.
I thought that S.E. Anderson created a really good protagonist in Sally. She had a great voice and personality that I enjoyed following. The way that the story was told was also slightly different than what I'm used to; it was a combination of Sally looking back on her past, asides to the reader, and current events in the novel. Sally's earnestness made the story really enjoyable. She was very grounded in her reality even when the world was becoming more complicated.
I loved how S.E. Anderson handled the idea of aliens existing in the world. For a lot of science fiction novels, authors often go down the route where the protagonist leaves Earth and never returns. In Starstruck, that was not the case. Sally didn't just up and leave when she learned about Zander and the existence of aliens. She was skeptical of it all, even when she had proof right in front of her. I liked that she didn't 100% accept it. I liked that she questioned it. Sometimes in books like these, the protagonist is of the mindset where no one cares about her enough to miss her, so her galavanting across the world (or universe) isn't a big deal. Most of the science fiction young adult novels that I've read go this route. I loved that Starstruck didn't. It was a sci-fi set on Earth (an urban sci-fi? I'm not sure if that's a genre) which made it unique in my eyes.
The novel also embraced its nerdiness which was awesome. There were mentions of various science fiction shows throughout the novel like little Easter eggs. I also loved the chapter titles. They're not often used in the books I read, so I liked that they were included. They were cute and gave little hints about what would be contained in the chapter but didn't spoil anything. I hope they continue in the next book.
My only criticism about the book is the lack of supporting characters. I wish that more time had been spent with Marcy, Sally's best friend. There was a good portion in the beginning where Sally was worried about her friendship with Marcy, but then that worry seemed to fade into the background. I understand that knowing things about aliens and how Earth is a moment away from being destroyed can be a little stressful, but Marcy disappeared completely. Although I do think that S.E. Anderson dropped hints about where her character will go in the future. I hope that my guesses turn out to be correct! I feel similarly about Matt and how he wasn't as fleshed out as I wanted him to be. He was a love interest, then went away for a little bit, and then reappeared when it was convenient. Personally, I feel like his character arc was a little unfair. I would have liked it to go differently, because parts of it seemed too convenient. I like developed side characters, so my small complaint is minor compared to what I liked about the book.
Ultimately I really enjoyed Starstruck and am interested in reading more from the series. But I also really like that it ends in a way that could be the ending, should I not get my hands on the next novel. I always feel pressured to continue a book series when it leaves off on a cliffhanger that makes it impossible to not read the rest of the series. I don't feel that way about Starstruck. I recommend it for readers who like light and entertaining science fiction novels. It was very fun to read and I loved the voice of the main character and the voice that S.E. Anderson has crafted for herself as an author.
4 stars.
I received a copy of Starstruck from the author through The Book Robin Hoods in exchange for an honest review. If you are a book blogger / reviewer or author interested in connecting with a supportive author / reviewer community, The Book Robin Hoods may be something for you! Check out [a:M.C. Frank|12048141|M.C. Frank|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1503531975p2/12048141.jpg]'s social media pages for more information.
Starstruck is the first book that I received through The Book Robin Hoods, a group of authors and reviewers started by M.C. Frank. More information on my own involvement may be found here and here.
*
Sally's life is not going according to plans. A college dropout, she's barely able to hold down a steady job and keep a roommate to help pay the rent. When Sally loses her job, it seems like everything is going from bad to worse––culminating in her hitting someone with her car. But it's not just any someone. He happens to be an alien. She beyond relieved when there seems to be no lasting damage, and she thinks this weird encounter is the last of it. But when he calls her to bail her out of jail, she realizes that hitting him with her car was only the beginning. Starstruck is a fun and fast-paced read that keeps the reader engaged in the story as Sally tries to figure out where she fits into this larger universe that's suddenly open to her.
Zander is the other main character in Starstruck, and the main cause of Sally's woes. Although Zander looks human, he still has a lot to learn about being human. I really enjoyed the chaos that he caused in Sally's life because of that; I loved reading how she had to teach him how to wear clothes properly and the socially accepted way of bathing. It was entertaining to read. I liked that he didn't instinctively know what to do.
Was there a handbook that could tell me what to do next? There were thousands of books that taught parenting; I was pretty sure there wasn't a self-help book about alien roommates. If there was, it was probably about abductees, not subletters.
S.E. Anderson's writing was great. I felt like the humor was genuine and I enjoyed the mixups that sometimes occurred between Sally and Zander. The words and the story flowed together nicely, giving the reader a fully coherent story that had me curious about the larger world contained but not explained. It looks like the next books in the series will be about this world that S.E. Anderson created. I was glad that the book was focused like this. It made the book more detailed because it focused on one place instead of focusing on it all at once.
I thought that S.E. Anderson created a really good protagonist in Sally. She had a great voice and personality that I enjoyed following. The way that the story was told was also slightly different than what I'm used to; it was a combination of Sally looking back on her past, asides to the reader, and current events in the novel. Sally's earnestness made the story really enjoyable. She was very grounded in her reality even when the world was becoming more complicated.
Look, you can't take people off their planet willy-nilly. It's called alien abduction, and is frowned upon in the most respectable circles.
I loved how S.E. Anderson handled the idea of aliens existing in the world. For a lot of science fiction novels, authors often go down the route where the protagonist leaves Earth and never returns. In Starstruck, that was not the case. Sally didn't just up and leave when she learned about Zander and the existence of aliens. She was skeptical of it all, even when she had proof right in front of her. I liked that she didn't 100% accept it. I liked that she questioned it. Sometimes in books like these, the protagonist is of the mindset where no one cares about her enough to miss her, so her galavanting across the world (or universe) isn't a big deal. Most of the science fiction young adult novels that I've read go this route. I loved that Starstruck didn't. It was a sci-fi set on Earth (an urban sci-fi? I'm not sure if that's a genre) which made it unique in my eyes.
The novel also embraced its nerdiness which was awesome. There were mentions of various science fiction shows throughout the novel like little Easter eggs. I also loved the chapter titles. They're not often used in the books I read, so I liked that they were included. They were cute and gave little hints about what would be contained in the chapter but didn't spoil anything. I hope they continue in the next book.
My only criticism about the book is the lack of supporting characters. I wish that more time had been spent with Marcy, Sally's best friend. There was a good portion in the beginning where Sally was worried about her friendship with Marcy, but then that worry seemed to fade into the background. I understand that knowing things about aliens and how Earth is a moment away from being destroyed can be a little stressful, but Marcy disappeared completely. Although I do think that S.E. Anderson dropped hints about where her character will go in the future. I hope that my guesses turn out to be correct! I feel similarly about Matt and how he wasn't as fleshed out as I wanted him to be. He was a love interest, then went away for a little bit, and then reappeared when it was convenient. Personally, I feel like his character arc was a little unfair. I would have liked it to go differently, because parts of it seemed too convenient. I like developed side characters, so my small complaint is minor compared to what I liked about the book.
Ultimately I really enjoyed Starstruck and am interested in reading more from the series. But I also really like that it ends in a way that could be the ending, should I not get my hands on the next novel. I always feel pressured to continue a book series when it leaves off on a cliffhanger that makes it impossible to not read the rest of the series. I don't feel that way about Starstruck. I recommend it for readers who like light and entertaining science fiction novels. It was very fun to read and I loved the voice of the main character and the voice that S.E. Anderson has crafted for herself as an author.
4 stars.
I received a copy of Starstruck from the author through The Book Robin Hoods in exchange for an honest review. If you are a book blogger / reviewer or author interested in connecting with a supportive author / reviewer community, The Book Robin Hoods may be something for you! Check out [a:M.C. Frank|12048141|M.C. Frank|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1503531975p2/12048141.jpg]'s social media pages for more information.
smartin1991's review
4.0
I received this book from the author for review. I don't read much sci-fi but this sounded like a fun twist without being overly sci-fi. And it was. It was cute and fun and fast. I laughed at/with all the characters and really enjoyed this book.
wordswoods's review
4.0
I got an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Starstruck is a science fiction novel about teleporting aliens.
We follow Sally, a woman who loses her job. When an alien appears in front of her car, Sally's life is thrown off. Bored and depressed, she welcomes the diversion, but trying to accommodate this alien as she tries to get back into 'normal' life seems to be a bit harder.
This story's a whirlwind of events, building slow at first but diving into the action in the last quarter of the book. Through the communication with this alien she meets, Sally finds out that a lot more is going on at her new job, there is more to the universe than just our human mission to mars and she tries to make sense of it all while dating and seeing her best friend.
This was a fun, fast read, although I kind of lost track of events in the end, because so much was happening all at once! I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a quick, fun science fiction read :)
Starstruck is a science fiction novel about teleporting aliens.
We follow Sally, a woman who loses her job. When an alien appears in front of her car, Sally's life is thrown off. Bored and depressed, she welcomes the diversion, but trying to accommodate this alien as she tries to get back into 'normal' life seems to be a bit harder.
This story's a whirlwind of events, building slow at first but diving into the action in the last quarter of the book. Through the communication with this alien she meets, Sally finds out that a lot more is going on at her new job, there is more to the universe than just our human mission to mars and she tries to make sense of it all while dating and seeing her best friend.
This was a fun, fast read, although I kind of lost track of events in the end, because so much was happening all at once! I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a quick, fun science fiction read :)
nothisisrebecca's review
5.0
I got an advanced copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book and it really helped with my reading slump. I thoroughly enjoyed the sci fi part of the book and the idea of the book. I love anything that has to do with time relativity and multiple universes. I also really enjoyed the chapter titles and how it really helped with anticipating the chapter ahead.
witchyreader13's review
3.0
'Starstruck' had an interesting plot, but its manner of going back and forth between nonsense humor and deep emotion left me a little seasick. I felt like the author should have stuck more closely to one than the other. Also, while the humans in this story felt well-rounded, the aliens were somewhat 2-dimensional. The storyline was otherwise enjoyable and unique and I think the author will only get better with time. To read my full review, click here.
readingthief's review
4.0
**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
I absolutely love the characters in this book! They're all quite well-developed and feel real. The plot was interesting, but what really kept me interested was the characters. The world building was also pretty interesting, and I cannot wait to read more about the universe. I'm glad this book isn't a standalone because I want more!
Granted, the writing itself was okay. At some times it felt like the narration was telling more than showing, and the plot was a little predictable. However, I still found the voice charming and even funny at times.
Normally, I don't like reading ebooks, so if the book isn't something I ABSOLUTELY want to read, I put it down. Before I even started reading "Starstruck", I thought I was gonna DNF it. However, after the second chapter, Anderson had me hooked and I couldn't stop reading it!
"Starstruck" is a light-hearted, and fun read. Though the writing did not impress me, I loved the characters and world so much I couldn't stop reading until I got to the end. What I thought would be a bland, run-of-the-mill YA surprised me in a good way, and left me wanting more. My biggest beef with this book is how long I'll have to wait for the next one to come out!
I absolutely love the characters in this book! They're all quite well-developed and feel real. The plot was interesting, but what really kept me interested was the characters. The world building was also pretty interesting, and I cannot wait to read more about the universe. I'm glad this book isn't a standalone because I want more!
Granted, the writing itself was okay. At some times it felt like the narration was telling more than showing, and the plot was a little predictable. However, I still found the voice charming and even funny at times.
Normally, I don't like reading ebooks, so if the book isn't something I ABSOLUTELY want to read, I put it down. Before I even started reading "Starstruck", I thought I was gonna DNF it. However, after the second chapter, Anderson had me hooked and I couldn't stop reading it!
"Starstruck" is a light-hearted, and fun read. Though the writing did not impress me, I loved the characters and world so much I couldn't stop reading until I got to the end. What I thought would be a bland, run-of-the-mill YA surprised me in a good way, and left me wanting more. My biggest beef with this book is how long I'll have to wait for the next one to come out!
ogrezed's review
3.0
An enjoyable story, but I don't think I'll remember it a year from now. I see there are two more books in the series. Not interested.
bricake5's review
4.0
preface: these are my opinions. I'm not sure if the author meant to portray characters the way that I will be talking about in my review but it is how I interpreted the story.
I was graciously sent this book for review by the author and I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised. Going into books I don't tend to have high expectations so that I'm not disappointed and this book did not disappoint. This book captured me from the prologue and kept me intrigued throughout. I particularly enjoyed reading about the main character because I found her so relatable. I really appreciate the way the author depicted depression in her because throughout the novel there was no real need to label her that way. While she suffered from it she wasn't just depressed she was so much more. She had her own personality and most importantly it wasn't centered around the fact that she was depressed. I myself am going through some depression so I see a lot of myself in her and I felt I could relate with her from the very first chapter. Although i really enjoyed the characters and how they were written i did feel that the plot was kind of slow to begin with. Other than that I really enjoyed the writing style and the book in general and I would give it overall a 3.5/5 stars
I was graciously sent this book for review by the author and I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised. Going into books I don't tend to have high expectations so that I'm not disappointed and this book did not disappoint. This book captured me from the prologue and kept me intrigued throughout. I particularly enjoyed reading about the main character because I found her so relatable. I really appreciate the way the author depicted depression in her because throughout the novel there was no real need to label her that way. While she suffered from it she wasn't just depressed she was so much more. She had her own personality and most importantly it wasn't centered around the fact that she was depressed. I myself am going through some depression so I see a lot of myself in her and I felt I could relate with her from the very first chapter. Although i really enjoyed the characters and how they were written i did feel that the plot was kind of slow to begin with. Other than that I really enjoyed the writing style and the book in general and I would give it overall a 3.5/5 stars
sydneyd05's review
5.0
I received a copy from the author.
This book was fantastic. I loved every part of it. I enjoyed the way the characters developed throughout the book, it made them more believable. I think Sally and Zander hold a little part of my heart now.
I thought the actual plot was really good, but I saw the ship being in the workplace coming. It was still a really good read and I would recommend it.
The only thing I really didn't like is that Zander and Sally didn't actually get together in the end, but there will be a second book, so hopefully it will happen then.
This book was fantastic. I loved every part of it. I enjoyed the way the characters developed throughout the book, it made them more believable. I think Sally and Zander hold a little part of my heart now.
I thought the actual plot was really good, but I saw the ship being in the workplace coming. It was still a really good read and I would recommend it.
The only thing I really didn't like is that Zander and Sally didn't actually get together in the end, but there will be a second book, so hopefully it will happen then.