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msbedelia's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic. I struggled to put it down, and I love the way everything came together.
penguiniq's review
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
2.25
Look, this started so string and then for me dropped off a cliff. The author definitely has skill, but this was a miss overall.
amyjoy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Enjoyable! I spent a lot of time stressed out about Scarlett's visa situation and wondering how she was going to be a single mother and earn enough money to survive, and I thought the resolution, while perhaps very neat and tidy, felt satisfying. I was happy to see both Scarlett and Daisy be settled and happy.
brigid_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
zoes_human's review
3.0
While I love the idea of this story, I didn't care so much for the execution. Everything fell into place far too neatly with plot devices that felt exactly like, well, plot devices. There was also an air of the myth that the protagonist was pulling herself up by her own bootstraps despite the fact that she was bailed out by luck and happenstance repeatedly. Efforts at providing depth to the characters fell flat for me, and I found the whole book disappointingly predictable. It was nicely written though.
enewman312's review against another edition
5.0
Original and incredible tribute to the struggles of the undocumented.
jules32reads's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katmackie's review against another edition
3.0
A River of Stars is a bright debut brimming with hearty potential.
Scarlett is an expectant mother living in Los Angeles with a community of women who all want American birth certificates for their future children. Sent by her paramour (and boss) from China, Scarlett is at once a plucky and resourceful tenant compared to the other women. In a house that is beginning to feel like a prison rather than a retreat, she takes a leap and escapes the watchful eye of her landlord and guard Mama Fang, along with a younger teenage Mother.
Full review to be posted closer to publication date.
I received my copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books.
Scarlett is an expectant mother living in Los Angeles with a community of women who all want American birth certificates for their future children. Sent by her paramour (and boss) from China, Scarlett is at once a plucky and resourceful tenant compared to the other women. In a house that is beginning to feel like a prison rather than a retreat, she takes a leap and escapes the watchful eye of her landlord and guard Mama Fang, along with a younger teenage Mother.
Full review to be posted closer to publication date.
I received my copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books.