Series: n/a
Format: ARC (thank you, Simon!)
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?
STARRY EYES was exactly what I expected (and needed)! I was in the mood for a romantic (not necessarily fluffy, easy romance) and Jenn Bennett’s third novel totally did it for me.
This novel follows Zorie, as she attends a camping trip with her friends as well as the boy she used to date, Lennon. She also finds out that her father is having an affair and she struggles with the consequences of his infidelity as well as her feelings for Lennon. The plot was pretty fast-paced and there was a lot (I mean, A LOT) of drama throughout this novel that unravels pretty quickly by the end.
I also really enjoyed all the characters. I love Bennett’s depiction of Joy, Zorie’s stepmother. I feel like typically, stepparents are not depicted well, but she displays Joy as an immensely caring and kind person who is wonderful at being a mother for Zorie. Additionally, this novel deals with infidelity, trust, family, and relationships, so if you enjoy novels that delve into these topics, be sure to check this one out.
Overall, STARRY EYES is the perfect summer, camping-trip, second-chance romance you need! There’s tough themes that Bennett goes into, but she handles it all very well. Be sure to pick this book up asap!
Thank you to Simon for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Alice is an 18 year old college student who loves the oxford comma, television shows, and the company of dogs. She finds writing in the third person odd yet enjoyable. You can find her scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, and forever organizing her shelves on Goodreads.
arctic books 
Read this book a couple of days ago and really liked it. I especially appreciated the discussion of family! Glad you enjoyed it too 🙂
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I think this cover and your review match a lot of the kind of cozy reading I am on the mood for. It is no longer in Netgalley haha but I will keep an eye to it.
Thank you very much for such a great review!
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Great review! This sounds like a sweet read!
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This book solidified my love for Bennett. She crafts such fantastic characters, and delivers so many feels. Her books always leave me feeling a lot happier than I was before I read them too.
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I loved this one as well! My ARC expired, so I’ll definitely be buying this one. Especially because none of the maps correctly downloaded on my computer. I also appreciated that Joy was depicted as a loving parent. The whole “evil stepmother/father” trope is a bit tired to me. Great review! Jenn Bennett always delivers. 😀
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