tiffyofthemonts's review against another edition
4.0
It's Melina Marchetta meets Friday Brown meets White Oleander. So good I thought it was Aussie YA.
nannasa16's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
it's such a cute summer romance but I expected something more, maybe some developments within the characters or a little bit of drama, but I got a big flat nonsense plot.
it's such a cute summer romance but I expected something more, maybe some developments within the characters or a little bit of drama, but I got a big flat nonsense plot.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books that just grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go until you turn the last page. Even then I wanted more. Doller does a fabulous job of bringing the reader into Callie’s world and I have to admit, this is my first book by her but it will not be the last.
Callie was taken from her family at the age of 5 by her mother and has been living on the run. With a broken taillight, her mother is arrested and suddenly, after 12 years, Callie is introduced to a family she doesn't really know. I just wanted to give Callie a great big hug…she probably wouldn't have wanted it but I felt like she really needed one (or five).
On her first day back, understandably, Callie becomes overwhelmed – her family is Greek and they all really do care about her. She decides to go for a walk to the docks and comes across Alex Kosta where there appears to be an instant connection. It’s implied that Alex is a player – he is also gorgeous. I loved him. He is going through some tough family things as well and Doller made me want to give him hugs too…and maybe more. I mean, come on – a guy who says “All week I've wanted just three things: hot wings, cold beer, and you.” But seriously, when he starts saying things in Greek… big sighs.
Alex and Callie together are great. They bring out sides of each other that they don’t really feel like they can share with anyone else and I loved their trip snorkeling. Bit by bit, their connection becomes more than just physical attraction. They are drawn to each other and begin to share the things about themselves that no one else really knows.
Callie’s relationship with her mother is tough. Her mom clearly has issues and at times I was so angry with her and the way she treated Callie. I know she has a disease but I could feel Callie’s pain when she found out that if she had only taken her medication, Callie could have had a “normal” childhood. It was the fact that she decided what she wanted was more important than what was best for her child and when she destroyed the book – I was angry on the behalf of both Callie and Greg.
Callie’s father, Greg, is great. It is clear he is trying to adjust to the sudden addition of a seventeen year old girl to his family. He was trying so hard and Callie didn't know how to adapt to someone actually caring about where she goes and what she does. In my mind, eventually Callie tells him everything that happened while she was gone and they have the opportunity to heal together.
Kat is great for Callie – she loves her and although she doesn't completely understand what Callie has been through, she is trying. She is also very patient. Callie is slowly learning what it means to have a friend and how what she says and does impacts those around her.
Definitely go get this one when you can. I don’t want to give everything away so my review doesn't go into a lot of detail – just know that this is about family, love, healing, and so many more things that you won’t be able to put it down once you have started it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC.
Callie was taken from her family at the age of 5 by her mother and has been living on the run. With a broken taillight, her mother is arrested and suddenly, after 12 years, Callie is introduced to a family she doesn't really know. I just wanted to give Callie a great big hug…she probably wouldn't have wanted it but I felt like she really needed one (or five).
On her first day back, understandably, Callie becomes overwhelmed – her family is Greek and they all really do care about her. She decides to go for a walk to the docks and comes across Alex Kosta where there appears to be an instant connection. It’s implied that Alex is a player – he is also gorgeous. I loved him. He is going through some tough family things as well and Doller made me want to give him hugs too…and maybe more. I mean, come on – a guy who says “All week I've wanted just three things: hot wings, cold beer, and you.” But seriously, when he starts saying things in Greek… big sighs.
Alex and Callie together are great. They bring out sides of each other that they don’t really feel like they can share with anyone else and I loved their trip snorkeling. Bit by bit, their connection becomes more than just physical attraction. They are drawn to each other and begin to share the things about themselves that no one else really knows.
Callie’s relationship with her mother is tough. Her mom clearly has issues and at times I was so angry with her and the way she treated Callie. I know she has a disease but I could feel Callie’s pain when she found out that if she had only taken her medication, Callie could have had a “normal” childhood. It was the fact that she decided what she wanted was more important than what was best for her child and when she destroyed the book – I was angry on the behalf of both Callie and Greg.
Callie’s father, Greg, is great. It is clear he is trying to adjust to the sudden addition of a seventeen year old girl to his family. He was trying so hard and Callie didn't know how to adapt to someone actually caring about where she goes and what she does. In my mind, eventually Callie tells him everything that happened while she was gone and they have the opportunity to heal together.
Kat is great for Callie – she loves her and although she doesn't completely understand what Callie has been through, she is trying. She is also very patient. Callie is slowly learning what it means to have a friend and how what she says and does impacts those around her.
Definitely go get this one when you can. I don’t want to give everything away so my review doesn't go into a lot of detail – just know that this is about family, love, healing, and so many more things that you won’t be able to put it down once you have started it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC.
khairun_atika's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Trish Doller I have ever read, and I was honestly dazzled by the way she writes. It is a very painful book to read, with a poignant premise - a girl who was kidnapped by her mother twelve years prior finally reunited with her heartbroken father. For once, she knows security, comfort and stability. Yet she is torn between her new, comfortable life which was hers in the first place with the guilt of having left her mother to the authorities. Callie is a bright and illuminating character despite the darkness that had long descended upon her life, making this a very enjoyable read.
blakehalsey's review against another edition
5.0
Gah, this was my first Trish Doller novel and I love, love, loved everything about it. So up my alley--emotional, romantic, family angst. All the things and I adored the sex positivity in this book, even in the shadow of sexual abuse. So damn good.
kawc29's review against another edition
3.0
Callie, she's a fairly typical teen considering her life and with that she's also quite tiring. However, it is interesting to watch her learn and grow after her horrible start in life. She starts to figure out what home is and I thought her relationships were interesting. However, her romance is fast paced and strange feeling to me. I liked it though and I wanted to know more. My biggest problem with this book is there are so many loose ends. I wanted to know what happened, and it ended so abruptly. Like the author reached a set page limit and had to hurry and wrap things up. I enjoyed reading it until the end where it totally let me down. I wanted the ending to be so much more, and maybe thT is my problem, but it could have been better.
That said, it was a nice little read, despite the rush.
That said, it was a nice little read, despite the rush.
lizg822's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one sitting on a night when I wasn't feeling particularly well. Needless to say, it was the best part of my night. Callie is a really relatable character even though her situation isn't. You can feel the emotions in the background easily and I quite liked that it didn't wrap up in a nice neat bow. It was heartfelt and thought provoking, even if it was a little racy without too much reason. I mean who doesn't like a little extra racy? I enjoyed it and if contemporary YA is your bag, I think you will too. I'll definitely order in a few copies for the store.
julia___reads's review against another edition
4.0
A very enjoyable book. I read this book faster than I have read a book in a while. I just wanted to know how it would end!
kaylakaotik's review against another edition
3.0
This situation seems incredibly weird to me. I just want to point that out. How strange would it be to have to live with practical strangers because your mom kidnapped you?
When I decided to read Where the Stars Still Shine, I thought it was going to be a heavier book than what it is. There's nothing wrong with light books. This book isn't totally fluff, but it wasn't as deep as I (admittedly) assumed it would be. Truthfully, I just thought (and hoped) I was getting something different.
I did really enjoy Trish Doller's writing style. She had me hooked into the story within the first chapter. While I don't feel like there was a whole lot of things going on in the story, there weren't any lulls or boring parts.
The ending was rather abrupt, too. Like, I literally didn't think it was coming so quickly. It felt rushed. The ending combined with how light and surface the book felt left me feeling unsatisfied overall. I just wanted more.
Where the Stars Still Shine was a decent book, but definitely not was I was expecting when I picked it up.
When I decided to read Where the Stars Still Shine, I thought it was going to be a heavier book than what it is. There's nothing wrong with light books. This book isn't totally fluff, but it wasn't as deep as I (admittedly) assumed it would be. Truthfully, I just thought (and hoped) I was getting something different.
I did really enjoy Trish Doller's writing style. She had me hooked into the story within the first chapter. While I don't feel like there was a whole lot of things going on in the story, there weren't any lulls or boring parts.
Spoiler
Insta-love is such a huge disappointment. Seriously, if a book has to have romance, does it really have to feel so fake? Alex is supposed to be, according to Kat, a man whore (though, I suppose she could have been making that up as he rejected her before). Suddenly, Callie comes into town and he's reformed and head of heels for a girl that he knows nothing about? Sure. Totally believable.The ending was rather abrupt, too. Like, I literally didn't think it was coming so quickly. It felt rushed. The ending combined with how light and surface the book felt left me feeling unsatisfied overall. I just wanted more.
Where the Stars Still Shine was a decent book, but definitely not was I was expecting when I picked it up.
mandybrox's review against another edition
3.0
Me ha gustado mucho, de verdad. Pero me ha sabido a poco.