{ about the book }
standalone novel
Publishes April 3, 2018 by Simon Pulse
e-ARC received via edelweiss
e-ARC received via edelweiss
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?
•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•
{ my review }
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
I think this is easily my favourite Bennett novel. I loved the setting, the romance, the characters, and the whole second chance, hate-to-love sorta thing going on. It was complicated and dramatic and a lot of fun. And it had a great bonus: MAPS.
Yes, I know. This is a contemporary novel. It’s not a road trip book. So maps? Yes maps. I’m not complaining, I love maps.
Anyway, moving on from maps: Starry Eyes was pretty fun. I had a bit of trouble getting through the first part, partially because of a lot of the side characters (I won’t even lie, they were really annoying in numerous ways) but everything else after that more than made up for it. There was a different setting, one I’m not really used to seeing in a contemporary and it made things all the more fun. Zorie and Lennon were making their way out of a wilderness site! While lots of bad things happen! How fun.
The two also deal with all the tension between them. Everything that happened that caused their friendship to falter and fail last year came out and they dealt with it in… interesting ways. I liked it, though, because whew boy, buildup guys. Very nicely done.
One of the reasons I really adore Bennett’s contemporaries is that she has so qualms about writing teenage characters who like having sex. They don’t make it some taboo thing that should be avoided At All Costs. They’re doing whatever the hell they want and it’s completely up to them. So respect.
Another thing! Parents are actually really involved and for a book where most of it takes place with the main characters stranded over at a wilderness site, that seems kinda difficult (and it was) but they’re still there! I especially loved Zorie’s relationship with her stepmother. The two stuck together through thick and thin and I loved them!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Bennett always writes sweet and steamy romances, characters who always have intriguing interests (Lennon’s way into reptiles, hiking, and horror manga stuff. Where Zorie’s into space and space stuff, and wearing a lot of plaid). 4 stars!
Yes, I know. This is a contemporary novel. It’s not a road trip book. So maps? Yes maps. I’m not complaining, I love maps.
Anyway, moving on from maps: Starry Eyes was pretty fun. I had a bit of trouble getting through the first part, partially because of a lot of the side characters (I won’t even lie, they were really annoying in numerous ways) but everything else after that more than made up for it. There was a different setting, one I’m not really used to seeing in a contemporary and it made things all the more fun. Zorie and Lennon were making their way out of a wilderness site! While lots of bad things happen! How fun.
The two also deal with all the tension between them. Everything that happened that caused their friendship to falter and fail last year came out and they dealt with it in… interesting ways. I liked it, though, because whew boy, buildup guys. Very nicely done.
One of the reasons I really adore Bennett’s contemporaries is that she has so qualms about writing teenage characters who like having sex. They don’t make it some taboo thing that should be avoided At All Costs. They’re doing whatever the hell they want and it’s completely up to them. So respect.
Another thing! Parents are actually really involved and for a book where most of it takes place with the main characters stranded over at a wilderness site, that seems kinda difficult (and it was) but they’re still there! I especially loved Zorie’s relationship with her stepmother. The two stuck together through thick and thin and I loved them!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Bennett always writes sweet and steamy romances, characters who always have intriguing interests (Lennon’s way into reptiles, hiking, and horror manga stuff. Where Zorie’s into space and space stuff, and wearing a lot of plaid). 4 stars!
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