Starry Eyes

by Jenn Bennett

[Sam@WLABB]

Alex, Approximately was one of my top reads of 2017, therefore, I was so beyond excited to read Bennet's new book. While I was reading Starry Eyes, I found myself feeling all those Alex-feels again. Although this was a totally different story, I found it had all those story elements, which endeared Alex to me, plus some new ones, belonging solely to this story. And once again, I give Bennett all the hearts and all the stars for another amazing story.

•Zorie was a girl after my own heart. Her love for all that is astronomical immediately won this STEM-girl's heart. I must admit, I was slightly disappointed in some of her early decisions, but she grew a lot as she hiked through those mountains. She was still Zorie at the end of the story, but she was better for the journey, which helped her work through some newer and pre-existing issues.

•Lennon 😍 There was just something about this dark and broody boy. It was instantaneous love for me. I think it was his openness and honesty that I liked most about him, but I also found him witty and amusing, and I admired his skills and ability to think quickly in precarious situations. I could not get the Eli from Degrassi out of my head when I thought of Lennon.

•The Romance was wonderful! Second chance romances always get me right in the feels. These two were nursing wide open wounds for a year, neither knowing the full story. They had this beautiful friendship, which evolved and then broke, and you know I was there the whole time hoping and wishing for them to find a way back to each other. Bennett did such an incredible job with this part of the story. It felt real, not forced, and the journey just tugged at all the right parts of my heart.

•This book was sex-positive. These were two healthy teenagers, and their feelings, wants, and needs were all very honest, and organically worked the ideas of safe sex and consent.

•This was a well balanced story. Bennett deftly tackled some serious topics, while still keeping the overall tone of the book light. It was one of the things I loved about Alex, and it's one of the things I really appreciate about this book. I mean, stuff got real over the course of this story. There were things that happened and were happening in Lennon and Zorie's lives, but Bennett tempered those heavy things with humor and joy. I laughed and smiled a ton, but I also shed a tear or two.

•Bennet always gives us some great adults in her books as well. Let's hear it for the moms in this book, because they were all spectacular. Aside from all three mothers being the best-most-nurturing-supportive-and-fantastic moms, Bennett also featured families that are not the norm, which is something personally important to me.

•Oddly enough, this was another book I LOVED which featured camping. I have not been camping in over a decade (been there, got my certification, never went again), but I can really appreciate all the knowledge that is needed when doing the type of camping they did in this book. I also love the majesty of the outdoor setting Bennett painted for us. These were the trails, which inspired Ansel Adams, and his works is stunning.

•Lennon's maps!!!! I loved all his hand drawn map, and that last one! I am getting all sappy and weepy just thinking about it.

Overall: Another stupendous Jenn Bennett book, which made me laugh, made me cry, and made me tremendously happy.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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