A review by mswarning
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

emotional hopeful 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

I don't think I was expecting such a lighthearted book due to some of the heavy subject matter. I know a lot of the blurbs mention Becky Chambers, which would have clued me in if I had read any of her books, lol.

I've had time to ruminate and gather my thoughts. Yesterday, when I finished it.. I thought that this was a 4-star book for me. I did not have a strong feeling about it, but I knew that I liked it. The more I think about this book, the more I think how much skill it took to weave together all the different elements in a way that felt effortless. There are some heartbreaking moments in Light from Uncommon Stars, but there is a lot of levity, too. And the beauty and poignancy of the music as well as all the food in this book. *drools* Lan and Shizuka go to so many restaurants, and Astrid cooks amazing meals with varied ingredients grown by neighbors. And then, of course, there's the donuts.

Katrina is such a resilient character, and I love her relationship with Shizuka. As pass times in the book, it becomes less clear who is the student and who is the teacher.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings