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nightstitch96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
wilder_reads1111's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. May or may not have shed a tear.
sadkitty's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended for: Just about anyone who's looking for a good read
This book is just amazing. There is a story which sucks you in right from the start. And then, there's the first half which just keeps you hooked for what's going to happen. But the best part is the second half of the book, where everything gets intense and amazing and jist can't be described in words.
There are moments when I cried with Mara and when I felt too much with her, and that's when it takes me a lot to cry.
This book is just a really great book!
This book is just amazing. There is a story which sucks you in right from the start. And then, there's the first half which just keeps you hooked for what's going to happen. But the best part is the second half of the book, where everything gets intense and amazing and jist can't be described in words.
There are moments when I cried with Mara and when I felt too much with her, and that's when it takes me a lot to cry.
This book is just a really great book!
maida's review against another edition
5.0
”Even girls made of stars are captives, bound at the wrists and traded like property. Even girls made of stars aren't asked, aren't believed, aren't considered worth the effort unless they can offer something in return.
Even girls made of stars buy into those lies sometimes”.
Every couple of years I encounter a book that both makes me sob through every single page but also afterwards. A book that doesn’t let me sleep until I’ve finished it, because not finishing it in one sitting could actually kill me. The last book that made me feel like this was We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, back in 2017.
And now Girl Made of Stars did it for me.
This might be a bit TMI, but recently one of my friends (ex-friend now, I guess) was accused of sexual assault by a girl I used to be really close friends with. And it broke me, because of course I believed her, but it also meant that this “safe” space I had meticulously built for myself was officially corrupted. It’s always been very difficult for me to make friends, so let’s say I was, I am, heartbroken.
I believe the books we enjoy the most come at the right exact time, when we need them. I loved seeing the exploration of Mara’s grief about her twin raping one of her best friends. Seeing trying to convince herself that maybe, just maybe, everything was fine, was one of the saddest yet realistic things that could’ve happened. And I felt it, right in my cold-ass heart.
With that said, this book was hard to read. Not because it was badly written or anything, but I just couldn’t stop crying. When I wasn’t crying about the main storyline, I was crying about Mara thinking she wasn’t enough, thinking no one would believe her, her trying to deal with trauma on her own.
I think it’s a bit shallow to discuss romantic relationships considering the subject matter is this dark, but still, the one thing that irked me about this book was Mara’s relationship with Charlie. I like that they relay on each other, but my god they were so toxic most of the time. That turned out okay in the end, I guess.
Is this my new favorite book of all time? Probably- wait, actually, more than likely.
Pre-review
after pulling an all-nighter and sobbing my eyes out for the past four hours I can say that without a doubt this is my new favorite book of all time.
1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy
Even girls made of stars buy into those lies sometimes”.
Every couple of years I encounter a book that both makes me sob through every single page but also afterwards. A book that doesn’t let me sleep until I’ve finished it, because not finishing it in one sitting could actually kill me. The last book that made me feel like this was We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, back in 2017.
And now Girl Made of Stars did it for me.
This might be a bit TMI, but recently one of my friends (ex-friend now, I guess) was accused of sexual assault by a girl I used to be really close friends with. And it broke me, because of course I believed her, but it also meant that this “safe” space I had meticulously built for myself was officially corrupted. It’s always been very difficult for me to make friends, so let’s say I was, I am, heartbroken.
I believe the books we enjoy the most come at the right exact time, when we need them. I loved seeing the exploration of Mara’s grief about her twin raping one of her best friends. Seeing trying to convince herself that maybe, just maybe, everything was fine, was one of the saddest yet realistic things that could’ve happened. And I felt it, right in my cold-ass heart.
With that said, this book was hard to read. Not because it was badly written or anything, but I just couldn’t stop crying. When I wasn’t crying about the main storyline, I was crying about Mara thinking she wasn’t enough, thinking no one would believe her, her trying to deal with trauma on her own.
I think it’s a bit shallow to discuss romantic relationships considering the subject matter is this dark, but still, the one thing that irked me about this book was Mara’s relationship with Charlie. I like that they relay on each other, but my god they were so toxic most of the time. That turned out okay in the end, I guess.
Is this my new favorite book of all time? Probably- wait, actually, more than likely.
Pre-review
after pulling an all-nighter and sobbing my eyes out for the past four hours I can say that without a doubt this is my new favorite book of all time.
1. A book that was nominated for or won an award in a genre you enjoy
reeyabeegale's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This book, it was full of symbolism — the deviousness of the world we live in, hidden through poetic phrases.
What drew me into this book besides the intriguing plot was the use of “astrology”, specifically zodiac signs. I’m a Gemini myself (though I am not literally a half of a twin like Mara and Owen). I enjoy the use of metaphors to describe the bond of the twins, the special connection they share.
I love feminist books, I like to think I partake on the women empowerment movement. I just love everything about it; it makes me confident and strong, but not so much to the point where I feel entitled for everything that has something to do with gender equality and tackling on the misogynistic norm of the world.
Girl Made of Stars, though a good book, is honestly hard to review. No words can perfectly amount to what I felt throughout this story. It was heartbreaking, and at some point, emotionally draining. I can’t imagine living and sharing the same blood with someone who is and had been accused of sexual assault.
I cannot pretend that I know how the characters feel, I’ve never had to go through something like that and I never wish to —both for myself and for anyone. I can only empathize, but I can’t tell if what they did or how they acted was right or wrong, I am not in the right position to do so.
I felt bad when truths started spilling out, I already knew none of the attackers would be held accountable. It was something evident towards 3/4 of the book. There’s nothing I hate more than denying justice to something or someone that is clearly a victim of self-serving actions. However, the Author’s note helped a bit in explaining to its readers why the books was written the way it was. It was written so, not to give false hopes nor to discourage that when bad things happen, it will be fixed but rather show everyone that the world is messed-up and ugly. Happiness is a struggle, a constant battle between us and the people who are out to destroy it.
It was honest in a lot of ways, and it’s something that will stick with me for a long time.
Trigger Warning: Rape / Sexual Assault
This book, it was full of symbolism — the deviousness of the world we live in, hidden through poetic phrases.
What drew me into this book besides the intriguing plot was the use of “astrology”, specifically zodiac signs. I’m a Gemini myself (though I am not literally a half of a twin like Mara and Owen). I enjoy the use of metaphors to describe the bond of the twins, the special connection they share.
I love feminist books, I like to think I partake on the women empowerment movement. I just love everything about it; it makes me confident and strong, but not so much to the point where I feel entitled for everything that has something to do with gender equality and tackling on the misogynistic norm of the world.
Girl Made of Stars, though a good book, is honestly hard to review. No words can perfectly amount to what I felt throughout this story. It was heartbreaking, and at some point, emotionally draining. I can’t imagine living and sharing the same blood with someone who is and had been accused of sexual assault.
I cannot pretend that I know how the characters feel, I’ve never had to go through something like that and I never wish to —both for myself and for anyone. I can only empathize, but I can’t tell if what they did or how they acted was right or wrong, I am not in the right position to do so.
I felt bad when truths started spilling out, I already knew none of the attackers would be held accountable. It was something evident towards 3/4 of the book. There’s nothing I hate more than denying justice to something or someone that is clearly a victim of self-serving actions. However, the Author’s note helped a bit in explaining to its readers why the books was written the way it was. It was written so, not to give false hopes nor to discourage that when bad things happen, it will be fixed but rather show everyone that the world is messed-up and ugly. Happiness is a struggle, a constant battle between us and the people who are out to destroy it.
It was honest in a lot of ways, and it’s something that will stick with me for a long time.
Trigger Warning: Rape / Sexual Assault
joyceeeee_k's review against another edition
4.0
*tw for rape/sexual assault*
this book was so raw, real and unflinching. all the more reason why it’s such a captivating read. ashley herring blake’s writing pained me in the absolute best way possible. girl made of stars is one of those books i feel as if everyone should read. although it’s heart wrenching, there’s also a sense of hope throughout mara’s story that genuinely made me tear up at certain points.
this book was so raw, real and unflinching. all the more reason why it’s such a captivating read. ashley herring blake’s writing pained me in the absolute best way possible. girl made of stars is one of those books i feel as if everyone should read. although it’s heart wrenching, there’s also a sense of hope throughout mara’s story that genuinely made me tear up at certain points.
ambereen's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
emilye3's review against another edition
5.0
This book was heartbreaking and raw. It was also a very timely book. Highly recommend.