by Jenn Bennett
Read: April 10 - 15, 2018
Published: April 3, 2018 by Simon Pulse
Source: NetGalley (TY Macmillan!)
Category: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Second-Chances, Hiking, Astronomy
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound
Book Depository: 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?
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As I've come to expect from Jenn Bennett's YA romances, STARRY EYES features messy, real, relatable characters with interesting interests - and I adored it. Lennon loves reptiles and is all things goth. But also hiking and mapmaking. Zero wants to be an astrophysicist and explore the stars. This is how (after some unexpected drama) the end up together on a backpacking trip to a star party to see a once-a-year meteor shower.
Jenn Bennett also features ultra swoon romances and I couldn't wait to get to that part of this book. And once we were there, that part did not disappoint at all. However, this story was a little tricky for me at first because it is a second chance romance, and those are always hard for me. Some of the beginning where Zorie thinks she likes Brett drove me a little bananas - right along with Lennon. Also, some of Zorie and Lennon's past was hard to read. And I took a star away mostly because I couldn't buy that exact level of miscommunication and drama. (spoiler) especially how no one figured out that Lennon's dad had died (this was the most unbelievable to me due to social media) + Lennon's complete lack of communication at that time + Zorie's moving on so quickly.(end/spoiler) It was like the perfect storm of trouble and I couldn't buy it 100%.
Besides those hiccups, I adored watching Zorie and Lennon fall for each other again, and their history makes it completely understandable how it all happens over a few days hike. Speaking of the hike, I am dying to visit these parks out west. Bennett always describes settings in her books, in this case the wilderness, that makes me want to book a flight to a new adventure ASAP.
Love Triangle Factor: Low (decoy boy)(spoiler) Many will say none, because there's never a question where this is going. Still, the beginning made me a little bit nervous, since Zorie does think she likes Brett for a time. (end/spoiler)
Love Triangle Factor: None
