Title: Starry Eyes
Author: Jenn Bennett
Publication: January 8, 2019
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Fiction, Romance
Pages: 448
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day Californian 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.
What could go wrong?
With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?
REVIEW:
There’s no hiding the fact that I think Jenn Bennett is one of the greatest YA Fiction authors of all time based on my reviews of her other books. While looking for my next audio book to listen to on my drives, I came across this magic that I happened to have not read before and was all over it. As usual, Bennett did not disappoint.
I absolutely love how Bennett takes teenage characters and builds this amazing story that drags in even the oldest of readers. As a 38-year-old woman, I proudly love reading these books. Bennett took these teens and made them interesting, insightful, damaged by family problems and so easy to love. Zorie goes on a hiking/camping trip with friends and Lennon shows up even though they haven’t spoken in a long while and sparks…. so many sparks. Bennett was able to write characters I loved reading and was cheering on their storylines. The story never died off to a point where I didn’t want to read it. I was always eagering listening and needing to know what was going to happen next. I also really liked how tough things happened to them hiking the backcountry, but it wasn’t over the top making it unrealistic. Bennett is a master at balancing exciting parts in her stories with reality.
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book. If you love YA Fiction, or even if you don’t because you’ve never read a really good one, pick up Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. Or swing over and read my reviews of Alex, Approximately, and Seriously Moonlight. I devoured every last page of this book and maintained the thought that Bennet is one of the greats. Astonishingly good writing and character development followed with a well-flowing interesting plot line. Hats off.
