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A review by discarded_dust_jacket
Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is one of those books that is both impossible to put down but also extremely hard to read.
Definitely check the trigger warnings and take them to heart. If you’re not comfortable reading about child sexual abuse (it doesn’t happen on-page but it’s recounted, and the resulting trauma is a central plot element) as well as adult sexual assault (which IS described on-page), then maybe consider sitting this one out to protect yourself.
There’s quite a few things I loved about this. I loved the author’s focus on the way being a partner to someone with unresolved and unaddressed trauma can cause trauma. We watch as Matt takes it upon himself to be the one “saving” Logan again and again, ignoring his own needs in the process. But no partner should have to take on that role for the person they love. Playing the perpetual savior with only lead to burnout, hurt, and eventually resentment.
Relatedly, I loved that this book didn’t choose to make Mattie’s love the thing that saves Logan. Only Logan’s own commitment to his mental health and healing could ever do that.
I also loved the commentary this book includes about internet fan culture. There’s some well-deserved criticism for twitter dog-piling—the vitriol mixed with a total and complete breakdown in boundaries—and how fans believe they’re entitled to the lives of celebrities.
Similar to Tia Williams’ Seven Days in June, this book almost doesn’t have an HEA, so if you’re only happy with a “and then they skipped off into the sunset holding hands” kind of romance, this might leave you feeling a bit let down. Just be prepared.
Definitely check the trigger warnings and take them to heart. If you’re not comfortable reading about child sexual abuse (it doesn’t happen on-page but it’s recounted, and the resulting trauma is a central plot element) as well as adult sexual assault (which IS described on-page), then maybe consider sitting this one out to protect yourself.
There’s quite a few things I loved about this. I loved the author’s focus on the way being a partner to someone with unresolved and unaddressed trauma can cause trauma. We watch as Matt takes it upon himself to be the one “saving” Logan again and again, ignoring his own needs in the process. But no partner should have to take on that role for the person they love. Playing the perpetual savior with only lead to burnout, hurt, and eventually resentment.
Relatedly, I loved that this book didn’t choose to make Mattie’s love the thing that saves Logan. Only Logan’s own commitment to his mental health and healing could ever do that.
I also loved the commentary this book includes about internet fan culture. There’s some well-deserved criticism for twitter dog-piling—the vitriol mixed with a total and complete breakdown in boundaries—and how fans believe they’re entitled to the lives of celebrities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Biphobia, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts