froydis's review
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for early access to this title.
3 1/2 stars - A very interesting premise! I really enjoyed all the descriptions of the art, and how it comes to life. However, the characters seemed a bit shallow to me, and not as fully drawn as in Whitney's other books. The mystery elements are a bit simplistic as well. Its a fun romp through the art world, and will make you want to look up the paintings.
3 1/2 stars - A very interesting premise! I really enjoyed all the descriptions of the art, and how it comes to life. However, the characters seemed a bit shallow to me, and not as fully drawn as in Whitney's other books. The mystery elements are a bit simplistic as well. Its a fun romp through the art world, and will make you want to look up the paintings.
missprint_'s review
3.0
Julien Garnier is a skilled draftsman even if his own works always lack that creative spark found in great art. But that's usually okay. Working as a tour guide in the museum his mother runs means that Julien is never far away from the inspiration and beauty found in the works of Van Gogh, Monet and other old talents--especially other Impressionists.
When a peach falls out of a painting and Olympia's cat wanders the museum, Julien thinks he must be dreaming. Then Degas' dancers jete across the museum floor and Julien realizes that, impossible as it seems, what he is seeing is very, very real.
When a lost Renoir arrives at the museum, Julien can't help but fall in love with the girl it depicts. He falls even harder when she walks out of the painting and introduces herself.
But Clio isn't like the other art. Instead of a mere depiction, Clio is a real girl trapped inside the painting by a strange and powerful curse.
As Julien learns more about Clio and how he might be able to free her, other strange things begin affecting are throughout the museum. As the paintings twist and change, Julien and Clio must race to find a way to break the curse--even if it might tear them apart in Starry Nights (2013) by Daisy Whitney.
With its beautiful cover and intriguing premise, who wouldn't be excited about Starry Nights? The book itself is physically beautiful with full color endpapers featuring some of the paintings mentioned in the story. The initial summary is also extremely appealing to any art enthusiast.
Although this book is adorably romantic with a decidedly French feeling conveyed in the setting, it never quite realizes its potential. Instead of becoming a resonant or memorable story, Starry Nights falls short in key moments where the characters and the events themselves could have gone further. Part of the problem here is definitely too much happening in too short a book.
Starry Nights is only 288 pages (hardcover) and Whitney packs a lot into those pages. The realms of believability (even in a story where art comes to life) are tested and stretched repeatedly as new dimensions are added to the story and the premise reshapes itself around this new information.
While the settings and the initial premise were delightful the story became mired in less enjoyable details including, sadly, a romantic pairing that was never quite as convincing as it needed to be for such a patently romantic book. Starry Nights will be a joy for art fans and readers looking for a superficially satisfying romance with some offbeat twists. Readers looking for a richer story or characters with more depth may have to look elsewhere.
Possible Pairings: Heist Society by Ally Carter, Graffitti Moon by Cath Crowley, The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece by Edward Dolnick, Bunheads by Sophie Flack, Temping Fate by Esther Friesner, Darker Still by Leanna Renne Hieber, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Confessions of a Not It Girl by Melissa Kantor, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2013*
When a peach falls out of a painting and Olympia's cat wanders the museum, Julien thinks he must be dreaming. Then Degas' dancers jete across the museum floor and Julien realizes that, impossible as it seems, what he is seeing is very, very real.
When a lost Renoir arrives at the museum, Julien can't help but fall in love with the girl it depicts. He falls even harder when she walks out of the painting and introduces herself.
But Clio isn't like the other art. Instead of a mere depiction, Clio is a real girl trapped inside the painting by a strange and powerful curse.
As Julien learns more about Clio and how he might be able to free her, other strange things begin affecting are throughout the museum. As the paintings twist and change, Julien and Clio must race to find a way to break the curse--even if it might tear them apart in Starry Nights (2013) by Daisy Whitney.
With its beautiful cover and intriguing premise, who wouldn't be excited about Starry Nights? The book itself is physically beautiful with full color endpapers featuring some of the paintings mentioned in the story. The initial summary is also extremely appealing to any art enthusiast.
Although this book is adorably romantic with a decidedly French feeling conveyed in the setting, it never quite realizes its potential. Instead of becoming a resonant or memorable story, Starry Nights falls short in key moments where the characters and the events themselves could have gone further. Part of the problem here is definitely too much happening in too short a book.
Starry Nights is only 288 pages (hardcover) and Whitney packs a lot into those pages. The realms of believability (even in a story where art comes to life) are tested and stretched repeatedly as new dimensions are added to the story and the premise reshapes itself around this new information.
While the settings and the initial premise were delightful the story became mired in less enjoyable details including, sadly, a romantic pairing that was never quite as convincing as it needed to be for such a patently romantic book. Starry Nights will be a joy for art fans and readers looking for a superficially satisfying romance with some offbeat twists. Readers looking for a richer story or characters with more depth may have to look elsewhere.
Possible Pairings: Heist Society by Ally Carter, Graffitti Moon by Cath Crowley, The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece by Edward Dolnick, Bunheads by Sophie Flack, Temping Fate by Esther Friesner, Darker Still by Leanna Renne Hieber, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Confessions of a Not It Girl by Melissa Kantor, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2013*
merlin_reads's review
2.0
Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me. I ended up with way too many questions after the fact and everything was just very unsatisfying which makes me sad because that cover is beautiful and it sounded like such an interesting premise.
Maybe it's my fault. I was expecting magical paintings wrapped in mystery, surprise, wonderment, but I didn't really get any of that. When the paintings started to come to life, so one questioned it. The MC just acted like it was normal so then how was I supposed to think this was anything magical? Then when the mysterious girl in the painting comes to life, it's instalove to the max and I just didn't buy it. It was almost as if it were half a story and the author expected us to fill in the blanks.
The best part of this book was the locale. Paris. The city of love. I did love reading about the cafes and the museums and just the way of life in Paris. But sadly, that was really all I enjoyed and the locale is not enough to carry a book. You can tell by the writing that the author loves the arts and knows much about the history of painters but most of that love came across convoluted and jumbled.
I just wanted more magic and I wanted it to be more romantic. And I just didn't get that.
Maybe it's my fault. I was expecting magical paintings wrapped in mystery, surprise, wonderment, but I didn't really get any of that. When the paintings started to come to life, so one questioned it. The MC just acted like it was normal so then how was I supposed to think this was anything magical? Then when the mysterious girl in the painting comes to life, it's instalove to the max and I just didn't buy it. It was almost as if it were half a story and the author expected us to fill in the blanks.
The best part of this book was the locale. Paris. The city of love. I did love reading about the cafes and the museums and just the way of life in Paris. But sadly, that was really all I enjoyed and the locale is not enough to carry a book. You can tell by the writing that the author loves the arts and knows much about the history of painters but most of that love came across convoluted and jumbled.
I just wanted more magic and I wanted it to be more romantic. And I just didn't get that.
cmdc325's review
4.0
*Goodreads Giveaway Book*
This book started off kind of slow. I didn't think that I was going to like it. But it was pretty good. I like that it was based on art because I like it. The characters are described really well. To be honest is was mildly attracted to the main character Julien, but of course he is fictional. I would recommend this to anyone who like romance and art stories.
This book started off kind of slow. I didn't think that I was going to like it. But it was pretty good. I like that it was based on art because I like it. The characters are described really well. To be honest is was mildly attracted to the main character Julien, but of course he is fictional. I would recommend this to anyone who like romance and art stories.
siobhan27's review
3.0
Starry Nights was a book that I was extremely excited to read for many reasons. One is was by Daisey Whitney, two has to do with art, and three it was set in Paris, which is by far my favorite place in the world. I went into this book with an open mind, and I will admit that i was disappointed.
I feel like my biggest issue in this book was the characters. Julien, our narrator was very one dimensional. We meet him when he has just been dumped by an American Girl and is now trying to move on. The we meet a whole slew of characters that appear and disappear just as fast as they appeared. I think there was just too much going on for me to follow the story properly. And once the secret of Julien being able to see the paintings come to life happened, I think that was it for me. It was just too much in one book.
Although I thought that seeing painting come to life was a turning point for me in this story, I did really enjoy the history the author put behind them. I really enjoyed getting a history of art while reading this story and honestly you would think it would be info dump after info dump but it wasn't. I felt completely at ease while reading about the stories behind some of histories most prized paintings. And I thought that the author did a very good job of incorporating said history into the story.
Another aspect I loved in this book was the mystery aspect that arrived near the end of the book. it was a great distraction from the rest of the story and I honestly wish it was more prominent in the story itself. Once that aspect of the story started i found myself flipping pages like it was no ones business. I wanted to know what happened at the end. And although the end was a bit cliche, it worked. And it was very sweet.
Overall, Starry Nights was a cute and easy read that will make anyone who loves art happy. The characters, although at times one dimensional, developed this story into a great mystery.
I feel like my biggest issue in this book was the characters. Julien, our narrator was very one dimensional. We meet him when he has just been dumped by an American Girl and is now trying to move on. The we meet a whole slew of characters that appear and disappear just as fast as they appeared. I think there was just too much going on for me to follow the story properly. And once the secret of Julien being able to see the paintings come to life happened, I think that was it for me. It was just too much in one book.
Although I thought that seeing painting come to life was a turning point for me in this story, I did really enjoy the history the author put behind them. I really enjoyed getting a history of art while reading this story and honestly you would think it would be info dump after info dump but it wasn't. I felt completely at ease while reading about the stories behind some of histories most prized paintings. And I thought that the author did a very good job of incorporating said history into the story.
Another aspect I loved in this book was the mystery aspect that arrived near the end of the book. it was a great distraction from the rest of the story and I honestly wish it was more prominent in the story itself. Once that aspect of the story started i found myself flipping pages like it was no ones business. I wanted to know what happened at the end. And although the end was a bit cliche, it worked. And it was very sweet.
Overall, Starry Nights was a cute and easy read that will make anyone who loves art happy. The characters, although at times one dimensional, developed this story into a great mystery.
heisereads's review
4.0
First Thought: I got to spend a little more time in Europe - the setting reigns in this book!
In STARRY NIGHTS Daisy Whitney has written an ode to artists and their famous artwork, to those who are well-loved and to those who just love to create. It instantly transports the readers to the streets of Paris, the museums housing the masters, and the heart of the pieces they lovingly created. It's a touch of whimsy, a touch of romance, a touch of friendships, a touch of secret underground societies, a touch of travel guide, a touch of art history, a touch of unrequited love, a touch of kisses, a touch of mystery, a touch of art heists, a touch of a tour of the greatest art museums around the world. The twisty bits as we uncover what is really going on as Garnier races to figure out how to fix these most famous art pieces before they are destroyed adds an element to the plot that kept me turning the pages. Some of my most favorite parts of the story were the after-hours in the museum with the artwork coming to life elements along with how real the setting became for me. I love Paris and Daisy Whitney transported me right back there with this novel. STARRY NIGHTS is a fun read with a sweet romance and a mystery to figure out that will keep readers intrigued and looking up artwork from the Masters. It's a bit Night at the Museum + Heist Society + some kind of romance story.
Final Thoughts: Daisy Whitney is one of my favorite authors, and STARRY NIGHTS doesn't disappoint. Although very different from her previous books, it's a whimsical read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In STARRY NIGHTS Daisy Whitney has written an ode to artists and their famous artwork, to those who are well-loved and to those who just love to create. It instantly transports the readers to the streets of Paris, the museums housing the masters, and the heart of the pieces they lovingly created. It's a touch of whimsy, a touch of romance, a touch of friendships, a touch of secret underground societies, a touch of travel guide, a touch of art history, a touch of unrequited love, a touch of kisses, a touch of mystery, a touch of art heists, a touch of a tour of the greatest art museums around the world. The twisty bits as we uncover what is really going on as Garnier races to figure out how to fix these most famous art pieces before they are destroyed adds an element to the plot that kept me turning the pages. Some of my most favorite parts of the story were the after-hours in the museum with the artwork coming to life elements along with how real the setting became for me. I love Paris and Daisy Whitney transported me right back there with this novel. STARRY NIGHTS is a fun read with a sweet romance and a mystery to figure out that will keep readers intrigued and looking up artwork from the Masters. It's a bit Night at the Museum + Heist Society + some kind of romance story.
Final Thoughts: Daisy Whitney is one of my favorite authors, and STARRY NIGHTS doesn't disappoint. Although very different from her previous books, it's a whimsical read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
rebar351's review
4.0
I really liked this book paintings coming to life is a really interesting concept. I got to brush up on my painting knowledge and learn a couple of new things along the way. I will admit that it took me a bit to really get into the book but once it started picking up I was hooked. The love story between the girl in the painting and Julien is intriguing and captivating. I would recommend this book to those who are art fanatics and would love to hear what the people in paintings have to say.
itsme_lori's review
2.0
I'm going to come right out with it and let you guys know that this book was just not for me. I was originally sucked in by the cute cover and the idea of a YA mystery book meets Night at the Museum but for me it just didn't work. I'll explain my reasons below but I also believe that there are people who will love this book. If you are into art and Paris and museums and HEA, I think this one would work really well for you. So just make sure you keep all of that in mind while you read the rest of this review. Also, there are some *spoilers* here.
My main problems with this book are 1) the instalove and 2) the MC's voice.
Sometimes, I can get behind instalove in books when it feels like there's some kind of justifiable instant connection between two characters but unfortunately, this was not one of those times. Julien falls in love with a girl in a painting. He hasn't even talked to her and he's fallen for her. Then, magically, as soon as she comes out of her painting, she falls for him, too. None of it made sense for me, even in a magical realism world, how a teenage boy would fall in love with a girl in a painting and give up all real girls for her. He knows nothing about her, where she came from, who she is, or if she's even real and going to stick around. But it doesn't matter, he saw her in art and he loves her. And Clio, the girl in the painting, has literally been trapped in a painting that was in someone's basement for a hundred-something years. She knows nothing about Julien, nothing about the current world, hasn't talked to anyone since she was trapped, but she sees Julien and that's it. She gives up all other potential guys and her life's work for the first boy she sees. I just don't get it and can't support a "romance" like that. But if you like really cheesy romances, you might really like Julien and Clio.
On a similar note, Julien never really felt real to me. He's supposed to be a teenage boy and while I understand that he is in France and I'm not accustomed to French teenagers, his voice never felt natural or teenage boy to me. He was a nice enough character and smart and all the things you'd think you'd want in a perfectly nice character, but he just never screamed "I'm a teenage boy!" Though, honestly, he never actually really screamed anything to me. With all of his niceness, he was also a little boring. The only times he really seemed believable to me were the times he was with Emilie, a real girl ballerina. He seemed much more natural and not I was really hoping the two of them would get a chance together, but Julien barely even thinks of her with Clio in the museum.
Overall, the fact that I couldn't connect with the MC and the instalove that gets really cheesy (At one point Julien says, "She tastes like a song.") it just didn't work for me. I wasn't sure about the magical realism at first, but that part actually worked just fine for me. I did really enjoy some of the secondary characters; Bonheur and Sophie add some interest and Simon works as a loyal sidekick. The plot does get a little weird towards the end with the progression of the mystery and the addition of a character who's trying to get Clio's painting. But overall, there just isn't much to the story that I really connected with. It's a very light, somewhat younger YA that might work if you're a big art fan or really into magical realism.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
My main problems with this book are 1) the instalove and 2) the MC's voice.
Sometimes, I can get behind instalove in books when it feels like there's some kind of justifiable instant connection between two characters but unfortunately, this was not one of those times. Julien falls in love with a girl in a painting. He hasn't even talked to her and he's fallen for her. Then, magically, as soon as she comes out of her painting, she falls for him, too. None of it made sense for me, even in a magical realism world, how a teenage boy would fall in love with a girl in a painting and give up all real girls for her. He knows nothing about her, where she came from, who she is, or if she's even real and going to stick around. But it doesn't matter, he saw her in art and he loves her. And Clio, the girl in the painting, has literally been trapped in a painting that was in someone's basement for a hundred-something years. She knows nothing about Julien, nothing about the current world, hasn't talked to anyone since she was trapped, but she sees Julien and that's it. She gives up all other potential guys and her life's work for the first boy she sees. I just don't get it and can't support a "romance" like that. But if you like really cheesy romances, you might really like Julien and Clio.
On a similar note, Julien never really felt real to me. He's supposed to be a teenage boy and while I understand that he is in France and I'm not accustomed to French teenagers, his voice never felt natural or teenage boy to me. He was a nice enough character and smart and all the things you'd think you'd want in a perfectly nice character, but he just never screamed "I'm a teenage boy!" Though, honestly, he never actually really screamed anything to me. With all of his niceness, he was also a little boring. The only times he really seemed believable to me were the times he was with Emilie, a real girl ballerina. He seemed much more natural and not I was really hoping the two of them would get a chance together, but Julien barely even thinks of her with Clio in the museum.
Overall, the fact that I couldn't connect with the MC and the instalove that gets really cheesy (At one point Julien says, "She tastes like a song.") it just didn't work for me. I wasn't sure about the magical realism at first, but that part actually worked just fine for me. I did really enjoy some of the secondary characters; Bonheur and Sophie add some interest and Simon works as a loyal sidekick. The plot does get a little weird towards the end with the progression of the mystery and the addition of a character who's trying to get Clio's painting. But overall, there just isn't much to the story that I really connected with. It's a very light, somewhat younger YA that might work if you're a big art fan or really into magical realism.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*