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A review by ihugparrish
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
2.0
3.5 stars
**WARNING! potential spoilers ahead, proceed with caution**
note: if anybody plans on reading the sun is also a star, i'd suggest reading the triggers warnings before !!! there wasn't much triggering content, however, there are brief mentions of a serious topic or two. stay safe <33
this book was simply alright for me. i didn’t find myself getting attached to the characters or truly investing myself in the romance plot of it all. i will admit i have watched a video review of the movie (dylan is in trouble i love you endlessly) and it most likely affected my overall opinion of the novel, i knew exactly what was going to happen and how it was going to happen— that aspect most likely took away some of the book’s “charm.”
the instant love trope is not for me. i don’t enjoy reading about it and i don’t think i’ll voluntarily read about that trope. daniel “fell in love” with natasha far too quickly and it rubbed me the wrong way. although i did like their relationship and how it developed throughout the book or, more accurately, the day, the instant “chemistry” daniel felt didn’t really feel like chemistry at all, he was simply physically attracted to her.
something i do admire in this work though is the various discussions of immigration, racism (in america and in “old-school” immigrants), and the struggles of being in an interracial relationship. i do not normally see those topics discussed in young adult novels and it was nice to see. the topics blended nicely with the other subplots (and the main romance plot) i do think nicola yoon as an author is very talented in the way she writes.
another thing i admired about this book was the various point of views and tangents to talk about other “minor” characters. i’ve been finding many books that constantly emphasize that these “side-characters” in other books are not just side characters, they have importance, history, livelihoods, and struggles of their own. there is ultimately a reason you are where you are and whether that’s a scientific or spiritual reason, there still is one.
with that, however, there was a point where this book began to drag along (again, this could be because i’ve watched a video about the movie adaption but still) i found myself getting extremely bored with the constant back and forth between natasha and daniel— i honestly found it irritating. i truly was only there still reading because of the deportation aspect of the plot.
overall, i didn’t really enjoy this book and i didn’t really hate this book either. it was simply meh, the only reason i’m rating it closer to four stars is because i enjoyed the overall messages, aspects of the relationship, and the writing style itself. this is definitely not a terrible book, it’s just not for me (and i won’t find myself coming back to it)
**WARNING! potential spoilers ahead, proceed with caution**
note: if anybody plans on reading the sun is also a star, i'd suggest reading the triggers warnings before !!! there wasn't much triggering content, however, there are brief mentions of a serious topic or two. stay safe <33
this book was simply alright for me. i didn’t find myself getting attached to the characters or truly investing myself in the romance plot of it all. i will admit i have watched a video review of the movie (dylan is in trouble i love you endlessly) and it most likely affected my overall opinion of the novel, i knew exactly what was going to happen and how it was going to happen— that aspect most likely took away some of the book’s “charm.”
the instant love trope is not for me. i don’t enjoy reading about it and i don’t think i’ll voluntarily read about that trope. daniel “fell in love” with natasha far too quickly and it rubbed me the wrong way. although i did like their relationship and how it developed throughout the book or, more accurately, the day, the instant “chemistry” daniel felt didn’t really feel like chemistry at all, he was simply physically attracted to her.
something i do admire in this work though is the various discussions of immigration, racism (in america and in “old-school” immigrants), and the struggles of being in an interracial relationship. i do not normally see those topics discussed in young adult novels and it was nice to see. the topics blended nicely with the other subplots (and the main romance plot) i do think nicola yoon as an author is very talented in the way she writes.
another thing i admired about this book was the various point of views and tangents to talk about other “minor” characters. i’ve been finding many books that constantly emphasize that these “side-characters” in other books are not just side characters, they have importance, history, livelihoods, and struggles of their own. there is ultimately a reason you are where you are and whether that’s a scientific or spiritual reason, there still is one.
with that, however, there was a point where this book began to drag along (again, this could be because i’ve watched a video about the movie adaption but still) i found myself getting extremely bored with the constant back and forth between natasha and daniel— i honestly found it irritating. i truly was only there still reading because of the deportation aspect of the plot.
overall, i didn’t really enjoy this book and i didn’t really hate this book either. it was simply meh, the only reason i’m rating it closer to four stars is because i enjoyed the overall messages, aspects of the relationship, and the writing style itself. this is definitely not a terrible book, it’s just not for me (and i won’t find myself coming back to it)