Title: Starry Eyes
Author: Jenn Bennett
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: S&S
Goodreads
From Jenn Bennett, author of Night Owls and Alex, Approximatelycomes a sizzling, starry romance, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell and John GreenReview by Nara
Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets and hidden feelings surface. Soon it's not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.
Starry Eyes is yet another excellent summery read from contemporary author Jenn Bennett. Main character Zorie goes on a group camping trip, and finds herself stranded with her former best friend and now 'enemy' (for a variety of reasons you can find out when you read the novel) in the wilderness, abandoned by the rest of her friends.
The development of the romance was really good, and one that you don't often see in YA. It was an established relationship that fell apart and then is put back together again throughout the novel. I really like how Bennett tackles relationship issues in her novels. The main couple are always very open and positive about all aspects of their relationship, and while sometimes (like in Starry Eyes) there will be a lot of drama behind the relationship, there is also an excellent foundation of communication that gets solved throughout the novel. As you can tell in this novel, you know that there is some sort of misunderstanding between Zorie and Lennon that turned them into 'enemies' and you're just waiting the entire novel for this issue to be sorted out.
The other relationships portrayed in the novel that I really liked were the relationships that the characters had with their parents. Zorie is very close to her stepmother (even closer than her birth father), and I loved seeing how they trusted each other and how well supported she was. Lennon has lesbian parents who are both also very supportive.
Overall, yet another excellent contemporary from Jenn Bennett. I feel like she's definitely made it onto my list of auto-read authors.
Really liked it
RatingsOverall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Cover: 2/5
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