Scan barcode
loverrbboy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
first (audio) book back after a long break from reading. i was expecting more gender shit to happen between the twins, which is what initially drew me to this book. the zodiac connection is cute and the characters make sense. i felt heartbroken for them when they found out their basement had flooded and destroyed their dead brother’s room . claire figuring herself out from those videos was really interesting - more explicit than i expected. this captures a very contemporary coming-of-age experience.
i kept thinking about how this family feels rich tbh, all this talk of switching schools to special ed, the house, the mother’s job. overall def worth the read for me, have never read about a genderfluid character before.
i kept thinking about how this family feels rich tbh, all this talk of switching schools to special ed, the house, the mother’s job. overall def worth the read for me, have never read about a genderfluid character before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Transphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Death, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
wormiebrains's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
babbieabbi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn’t think I would like this book at first, but I didn’t know what I was getting into. This book was so challenging to read for me, but it would have meant the whole world to me if it existed when I was 15. I can relate to so much with each twin, and the family dynamics were crushingly close to home. This book wrecked me emotionally, but in the best way. I feel so seen
sleepysamreads's review against another edition
5.0
I really really loved this. I didn’t have very many expectations going into it, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be as touching as it was.
It’s really interesting to see how each of the twins are grieving their brother’s death. They both grieve in very different, but also very similar ways. I found that really interesting.
I’ve never read a book with a genderfluid person! I’ve read a few books with characters who have different gender orientations, but never someone who is fluid on the spectrum. I really enjoyed reading Clare’s perspective and her discovering that about herself.
I really like Taylor! I think the way the author writes them was wonderful! I don’t think I’ve read a book with a non-binary character who we didn’t know their assigned sex at birth. I LOVED this. I think this is a beautiful way to introduce someone to the idea of a non-binary person. This is one of the reasons I think this book would be wonderful for those pre-teens who are ready to bridge the gap between middle grade contemporary to YA contemporary!
I also haven’t read a book with a character who is the specific type of neurodivergent that Audrey is. I think a lot of readers who are autistic might relate with Audrey a lot. (Though they never label Audrey’s neurodiversity as autism, she does have some of the characteristics, as well as a panic disorder and OCD qualities.)
This was a very refreshing book with beautifully unique characters that I definitely recommend!
It’s really interesting to see how each of the twins are grieving their brother’s death. They both grieve in very different, but also very similar ways. I found that really interesting.
I’ve never read a book with a genderfluid person! I’ve read a few books with characters who have different gender orientations, but never someone who is fluid on the spectrum. I really enjoyed reading Clare’s perspective and her discovering that about herself.
I really like Taylor! I think the way the author writes them was wonderful! I don’t think I’ve read a book with a non-binary character who we didn’t know their assigned sex at birth. I LOVED this. I think this is a beautiful way to introduce someone to the idea of a non-binary person. This is one of the reasons I think this book would be wonderful for those pre-teens who are ready to bridge the gap between middle grade contemporary to YA contemporary!
I also haven’t read a book with a character who is the specific type of neurodivergent that Audrey is. I think a lot of readers who are autistic might relate with Audrey a lot. (Though they never label Audrey’s neurodiversity as autism, she does have some of the characteristics, as well as a panic disorder and OCD qualities.)
This was a very refreshing book with beautifully unique characters that I definitely recommend!
_mercury_'s review against another edition
3.0
3.7 stars.
I found it on the New Book shelf in the YA section of my library, finished it a while ago, and have been reading bits over and over. Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Maybe a 6.8/10.
I loved all the Audrey parts, they were sweet and relatable, and I liked how the dialogue didn't have quotation marks. The Clare parts, I read but didn't love cause I didn't relate as much to her as I did Audrey. Audrey was smart and artistic, but wanted to be like her sister Clare. Clare was going through her own personal problems, and was trying to figure out who she was, so really it was a case of both of them imagining the other was living a perfect life when really it wasn't.
I found it on the New Book shelf in the YA section of my library, finished it a while ago, and have been reading bits over and over. Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? Maybe a 6.8/10.
I loved all the Audrey parts, they were sweet and relatable, and I liked how the dialogue didn't have quotation marks. The Clare parts, I read but didn't love cause I didn't relate as much to her as I did Audrey. Audrey was smart and artistic, but wanted to be like her sister Clare. Clare was going through her own personal problems, and was trying to figure out who she was, so really it was a case of both of them imagining the other was living a perfect life when really it wasn't.
mesy_mark's review against another edition
3.0
This was a complex book of identity, loss, and uncertainty.
Audrey might be neurodivergent, tests are still inconclusive. But one thing that is or certain, she is now at Peak for her education and has been there since her older brother Alex died. Clare her fraternal town born under a different star sign is in a normal school. In with the popular group but now seems to be shifting out of that way as she went through her brother's phone. Phone with videos on it that put her in the traditional masc position. This spurs her.
As Audrey wants out of Peak and Clare is discovering at the same time that she might be a little fluid in gender something she realizes that after getting used to Taylor, a nonbinary person. And Clare might even have feelings for them.]
This was a book of how loss. Alex passed away and C; are blamed Audrey for it. Audrey just wants to prove that she is normal and can fit in with the friend Clare has even though she has a fallout with that group. Clare just wants to figure her thoughts and where they are leading her ad is despite avoiding her sister and catch with her brother.
Audrey might be neurodivergent, tests are still inconclusive. But one thing that is or certain, she is now at Peak for her education and has been there since her older brother Alex died. Clare her fraternal town born under a different star sign is in a normal school. In with the popular group but now seems to be shifting out of that way as she went through her brother's phone. Phone with videos on it that put her in the traditional masc position. This spurs her.
As Audrey wants out of Peak and Clare is discovering at the same time that she might be a little fluid in gender something she realizes that after getting used to Taylor, a nonbinary person. And Clare might even have feelings for them.]
This was a book of how loss. Alex passed away and C; are blamed Audrey for it. Audrey just wants to prove that she is normal and can fit in with the friend Clare has even though she has a fallout with that group. Clare just wants to figure her thoughts and where they are leading her ad is despite avoiding her sister and catch with her brother.
darthsquidious's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Despite being marketed as a YA book, Under Shifting Stars has moments that can be meaningful, and relatable, to readers of all ages. Even as someone outside of the target age range, I enjoyed this story a lot both because of the well-written characters, and the lessons about learning to love oneself. Under Shifting Stars helped me remember that self-discovery doesn‰ЫЄt end with adolescence and that it‰ЫЄs okay to continue exploring my identity...
See my full review at https://butwhythopodcast.com/2020/07/29/advanced-review-under-shifting-stars/
Despite being marketed as a YA book, Under Shifting Stars has moments that can be meaningful, and relatable, to readers of all ages. Even as someone outside of the target age range, I enjoyed this story a lot both because of the well-written characters, and the lessons about learning to love oneself. Under Shifting Stars helped me remember that self-discovery doesn‰ЫЄt end with adolescence and that it‰ЫЄs okay to continue exploring my identity...
See my full review at https://butwhythopodcast.com/2020/07/29/advanced-review-under-shifting-stars/
sophielucy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.0
cassiahf's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
3.5
arinreads's review against another edition
5.0
this was... beautiful.
not too complicated or too dramatic but very unique and also very important. there are a lot of things going on, and i think all of them were handled quite masterfully.
wouldn't say it was an "absolute favourite" kind of a five-star but it reached some places in me and people should definitely read this!!
not too complicated or too dramatic but very unique and also very important. there are a lot of things going on, and i think all of them were handled quite masterfully.
wouldn't say it was an "absolute favourite" kind of a five-star but it reached some places in me and people should definitely read this!!