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Starkissed
Kissing movie star Grant West may be every teenage girl’s dream, but when it happens to Sydney Kane, it’s nothing but a nightmare. Sure he’s cute, but having her face plastered all over celebrity gossip blogs is not something she’s interested in. Now cheerleaders are trying to befriend her, reporters won’t stop calling, and her mother keeps chasing her with a curling iron so she won’t be caught by the paparazzi with flat hair ever again.
Forgetting Grant is all Sydney wants and Colin, the guy she’s had a crush on since seventh grade, seems like a pretty good way to do it. Then Grant shows up at Sydney’s door begging for a second chance and the more she gets to know him, the more she isn’t sure she wants him to go away. But with Grant in the picture, Colin is backing off and she definitely doesn’t want that. Everything is a mess and Sydney doesn’t know what to do, who to choose, or how to make those pesky cheerleaders leave her alone. She only knows one thing for sure, being STARKISSED isn’t a dream come true at all.
Forgetting Grant is all Sydney wants and Colin, the guy she’s had a crush on since seventh grade, seems like a pretty good way to do it. Then Grant shows up at Sydney’s door begging for a second chance and the more she gets to know him, the more she isn’t sure she wants him to go away. But with Grant in the picture, Colin is backing off and she definitely doesn’t want that. Everything is a mess and Sydney doesn’t know what to do, who to choose, or how to make those pesky cheerleaders leave her alone. She only knows one thing for sure, being STARKISSED isn’t a dream come true at all.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2012
36 people are currently reading
5371 people want to read
About the author
Brynna Gabrielson
2 books124 followersOriginally from a small town called Ladysmith in British Columbia, Canada - Brynna now lives in the UK with her recently procured husband. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Creative Writing and a Master's Degree in Publishing. When she's not writing or stuck in her day job, she devours novels, loses hours on the internet and watches far too much TV for her own good.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
August 27, 2012
I was in the mood for a cute romantic comedy, and this was exactly what I needed. Yes, it was cliche, and yes, it was predictable, but I honestly think it's one of the better All-American-girl-next-door-falls-for-heart-throb-movie-star books.
To be honest, I didn't like the book right off the bat. Gabrielson made Sydney the oddball in her family - the Plain Jane that no one ever notices among five other beautiful sisters who took after their gorgeous mother. And Gabrielson just had to write the ever-so-cliche head-bump. But I knew it was going to be a quick read, so why not.
And thankfully, the rest of the story wasn't so cheesy. There were some really great lines, and definitely some squeal-able moments.
But the thing that made me like this book so much were the lovable characters. Grant was such a nice, sweet guy - not your stereotypical cocky movie star at all. Hell, even Collin was a really decent guy in this book.
And Sydney? You know in a lot of these books, the main character will let the popularity get to them where they'll forget for a bit who they are and who their friends really are? Well, Sydney continued to be her down-to-earth, spunky, independent self. Yes, she did make her fair share of mistakes, but she never let the situation change who she really was. And that was what made this book stand out from all of the others.
This was a truly delightful read and perfect for someone who's looking for a cute, fun read that will leave you smiling.
To be honest, I didn't like the book right off the bat. Gabrielson made Sydney the oddball in her family - the Plain Jane that no one ever notices among five other beautiful sisters who took after their gorgeous mother. And Gabrielson just had to write the ever-so-cliche head-bump. But I knew it was going to be a quick read, so why not.
And thankfully, the rest of the story wasn't so cheesy. There were some really great lines, and definitely some squeal-able moments.
But the thing that made me like this book so much were the lovable characters. Grant was such a nice, sweet guy - not your stereotypical cocky movie star at all. Hell, even Collin was a really decent guy in this book.
And Sydney? You know in a lot of these books, the main character will let the popularity get to them where they'll forget for a bit who they are and who their friends really are? Well, Sydney continued to be her down-to-earth, spunky, independent self. Yes, she did make her fair share of mistakes, but she never let the situation change who she really was. And that was what made this book stand out from all of the others.
This was a truly delightful read and perfect for someone who's looking for a cute, fun read that will leave you smiling.
August 20, 2012
read this review on: http://readingwithanacrasia.blogspot.in/
My first reaction when I read the blurb was :- Oh No! A love triangle again..! But somehow, because of the beautiful cover I still went on and read it..and I don't regret it!
Now that I have read it I can tell you, there is no love triangle (at least not a proper one that makes you want to pull your hair out..!). The author has just built up a situation which could have progressed into a love triangle..BUT..it doesn't..! *smile**smile*
The story line is good ,interesting and progressive.There are a few funny instances as well:
She parades down the stairs wearing a tight black skirt, knee high stiletto boots, and a mauve, curve hugging shirt. She makes it to the third to last stair just fine, but then Grant looks up and meets her eyes. She gets flustered and when she goes to take the next step, she loses her footing and falls the remaining way down.
Also,
“Nice view,” he says.
“Uh yeah,” I respond intelligently
It's a nice and relaxing summer read. If you are looking for a light, easy, summer romance read, this book is for you.
Here's one last quote from the book for you all:
“Look at that, you’re dancing already.” He grins.
“This isn’t dancing.”
“It is in my book.”
“Well your book is obviously not well written.”
I hope you all enjoy reading it..! :)
My first reaction when I read the blurb was :- Oh No! A love triangle again..! But somehow, because of the beautiful cover I still went on and read it..and I don't regret it!
Now that I have read it I can tell you, there is no love triangle (at least not a proper one that makes you want to pull your hair out..!). The author has just built up a situation which could have progressed into a love triangle..BUT..it doesn't..! *smile**smile*
The story line is good ,interesting and progressive.There are a few funny instances as well:
She parades down the stairs wearing a tight black skirt, knee high stiletto boots, and a mauve, curve hugging shirt. She makes it to the third to last stair just fine, but then Grant looks up and meets her eyes. She gets flustered and when she goes to take the next step, she loses her footing and falls the remaining way down.
Also,
“Nice view,” he says.
“Uh yeah,” I respond intelligently
It's a nice and relaxing summer read. If you are looking for a light, easy, summer romance read, this book is for you.
Here's one last quote from the book for you all:
“Look at that, you’re dancing already.” He grins.
“This isn’t dancing.”
“It is in my book.”
“Well your book is obviously not well written.”
I hope you all enjoy reading it..! :)
December 31, 2012
This book was totally the breath of fresh air I was looking for.
Call me a sap for cheesy happily ever after stories but I really couldn't help it with this one!
Started reading it earlier today and I just couldn't put it down!
So...it's about young Sydney Kane, typical teen who feels like the odd one out in her family, quite literally. She has five drop dead gorgeous blonde bombshells as sisters while she's the odd one out (middle child) with the mousey brown hair and killer green eyes. She spends her time living in the shadows of her overly successful and beautiful sisters and likes it that way. Wanting to spend time away from life at home she decides to spend Spring Break with her sister in New York, but because of work commitments her sister is otherwise engaged and can never find enough time to spend with her. Disappointed that she has yet been stood up (again) by her sister when they were meant to have dinner together on her last night in New York, fate intervenes and she is falls into the path of Hollywoods current 'it' boy Grant West (though she doesn't recognize him and quite frankly doesn't know who he is)While waiting for her sister she spends time getting to know the mystery hunk at the restaurant and at the end of the night shares a passionate kiss with him that seems so out of the blue and innocent enough she shrugs it off as a random spur of the moment type thing. Little does she know that one moment has been plastered all over every internet gossip site and she has become an instant star at her school and new mystery girlfriend to the one and only Grant West. Anyways the problem with this is that she is totally and hopelessly in love with local grease monkey Colin Wicks. He's a few years older which is totally not cool with her over protective dad but to make matters worse he's her sisters ex-boyfriend!
I really wanna talk about it more but I don't think I can do it without spoiling the rest of the story! Anyways...I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was super cute and for a minute there thought it was gonna end a completely different way but it surprised me which was awesome! Totally loved it and found the epilogue hilarious!
Definitely the kind of cheesy happily ever after book I was looking for after my dry spell of not so interesting books!
Love your work Bryanna Gabrielson! Looking forward to more of your books :)
Call me a sap for cheesy happily ever after stories but I really couldn't help it with this one!
Started reading it earlier today and I just couldn't put it down!
So...it's about young Sydney Kane, typical teen who feels like the odd one out in her family, quite literally. She has five drop dead gorgeous blonde bombshells as sisters while she's the odd one out (middle child) with the mousey brown hair and killer green eyes. She spends her time living in the shadows of her overly successful and beautiful sisters and likes it that way. Wanting to spend time away from life at home she decides to spend Spring Break with her sister in New York, but because of work commitments her sister is otherwise engaged and can never find enough time to spend with her. Disappointed that she has yet been stood up (again) by her sister when they were meant to have dinner together on her last night in New York, fate intervenes and she is falls into the path of Hollywoods current 'it' boy Grant West (though she doesn't recognize him and quite frankly doesn't know who he is)While waiting for her sister she spends time getting to know the mystery hunk at the restaurant and at the end of the night shares a passionate kiss with him that seems so out of the blue and innocent enough she shrugs it off as a random spur of the moment type thing. Little does she know that one moment has been plastered all over every internet gossip site and she has become an instant star at her school and new mystery girlfriend to the one and only Grant West. Anyways the problem with this is that she is totally and hopelessly in love with local grease monkey Colin Wicks. He's a few years older which is totally not cool with her over protective dad but to make matters worse he's her sisters ex-boyfriend!
I really wanna talk about it more but I don't think I can do it without spoiling the rest of the story! Anyways...I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was super cute and for a minute there thought it was gonna end a completely different way but it surprised me which was awesome! Totally loved it and found the epilogue hilarious!
Definitely the kind of cheesy happily ever after book I was looking for after my dry spell of not so interesting books!
Love your work Bryanna Gabrielson! Looking forward to more of your books :)
August 18, 2012
Cover: 1 star (I only like the way StarKissed was written. I hate faces on book covers. I think it ruins the whole “your own creation of what a character looks like” melody. That job is to be left to the readers not publishers.)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Unfortunately not so much.
Overall: I adore it!
Characters: If this novel was a bit longer I feel that I could’ve seen more into the characters that were portrayed. But overall, they were good.
Page Turner: Hell Yea!!!
Series should Continue? *nods head* Absolutely!
I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
I’m honestly baffled by my response to this book because I not only enjoyed the story, but I also gave it high marks. In many ways this book is everything I hate in a Young Adult romance, but I still found myself enthralled, giddy, and starry eyed, regardless of how annoyed I became at time. In fact, I felt like I was at odds with myself during most of it.
I must admit, this book had me tossing and turning, at the edge of my seat, biting my nails in anticipation, receiving that nauseous feeling you develop in your stomach when your either so nervous or over excited, screaming, smiling, and laughing (a lot). It had me hooked till the very last sentence.
This book was written from an incredibly talented author known as Brynna Gabrielson newfound to the “Writers World” and to me. I am so glad I asked for her to send me a free copy of the book. I do not regret the decision one bit. I have enjoyed StarKissed so much that I finished it within the hour of opening the first page.
I couldn’t let it go…or put it down.
Sydney and Grant met at a restaurant while Sydney is waiting for her older sister [who is running late yet again]. And I must say the way they meet had me rolling in laughter! Grant is a famous movie star acter, his sexy, hott, and has girls swooning over him all over the world. Sydney is just an average girl, who is different from her sisters. She has never missed curfew, has never gone out with an older guy and I’m assuming she is a grade A student. She despises the film Grant plays in. Despite their differences, they are somehow drawn to each other.
In the beginning I realised that I despised Sydney’s sister Angeline [very much]. Oh, she had me pulling the strands of my hairs. That girl is so frustrating. But as I flipped through the pages of novel I came to realise and understand Angeline and realised she wasn’t so bad after all. None of her sisters were. They turned out to be very nice and inspiring sisters. [Much like my own]
I enjoyed the boys that were portrayed in the book but sometimes they just had me screaming in frustration.
Truthfully speaking both Colin and Grant had me taking a step back and analysing them both from afar. I wasn’t prepared to cherry-pick a side yet in the beginning up until possibly halfway through the book. Both men were good looking, sugary, kind, charming and amusing but TRYING!
I just couldn’t understand what either of them wanted from Sydney. Did or did they not want her? Were or were not they using her? It was maddening.
Her best friend Caroline <<< she could be such a bitch and a good friend at times.
Personally, I would have LOVED to have seen more chemistry between Grant and Sydney. I find that the connection between them happened way too fast for my taste. There had to be a bit more dilemmas between the two and maybe further background information on how Sydney’s crush on Colin had developed.
...And this comes to the end of my review. I enjoyed the book and is certainly expecting (and looking forward to) more from this author.
“Sydney!” My dad’s voice rips through the downstairs hall.
I poke my head out of the living room and call back. “What?”
“You’re not moving in with that boy!”
“I know Dad. I know.”
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Unfortunately not so much.
Overall: I adore it!
Characters: If this novel was a bit longer I feel that I could’ve seen more into the characters that were portrayed. But overall, they were good.
Page Turner: Hell Yea!!!
Series should Continue? *nods head* Absolutely!
I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
I’m honestly baffled by my response to this book because I not only enjoyed the story, but I also gave it high marks. In many ways this book is everything I hate in a Young Adult romance, but I still found myself enthralled, giddy, and starry eyed, regardless of how annoyed I became at time. In fact, I felt like I was at odds with myself during most of it.
I must admit, this book had me tossing and turning, at the edge of my seat, biting my nails in anticipation, receiving that nauseous feeling you develop in your stomach when your either so nervous or over excited, screaming, smiling, and laughing (a lot). It had me hooked till the very last sentence.
This book was written from an incredibly talented author known as Brynna Gabrielson newfound to the “Writers World” and to me. I am so glad I asked for her to send me a free copy of the book. I do not regret the decision one bit. I have enjoyed StarKissed so much that I finished it within the hour of opening the first page.
I couldn’t let it go…or put it down.
Sydney and Grant met at a restaurant while Sydney is waiting for her older sister [who is running late yet again]. And I must say the way they meet had me rolling in laughter! Grant is a famous movie star acter, his sexy, hott, and has girls swooning over him all over the world. Sydney is just an average girl, who is different from her sisters. She has never missed curfew, has never gone out with an older guy and I’m assuming she is a grade A student. She despises the film Grant plays in. Despite their differences, they are somehow drawn to each other.
In the beginning I realised that I despised Sydney’s sister Angeline [very much]. Oh, she had me pulling the strands of my hairs. That girl is so frustrating. But as I flipped through the pages of novel I came to realise and understand Angeline and realised she wasn’t so bad after all. None of her sisters were. They turned out to be very nice and inspiring sisters. [Much like my own]
I enjoyed the boys that were portrayed in the book but sometimes they just had me screaming in frustration.
Truthfully speaking both Colin and Grant had me taking a step back and analysing them both from afar. I wasn’t prepared to cherry-pick a side yet in the beginning up until possibly halfway through the book. Both men were good looking, sugary, kind, charming and amusing but TRYING!
I just couldn’t understand what either of them wanted from Sydney. Did or did they not want her? Were or were not they using her? It was maddening.
Her best friend Caroline <<< she could be such a bitch and a good friend at times.
Personally, I would have LOVED to have seen more chemistry between Grant and Sydney. I find that the connection between them happened way too fast for my taste. There had to be a bit more dilemmas between the two and maybe further background information on how Sydney’s crush on Colin had developed.
...And this comes to the end of my review. I enjoyed the book and is certainly expecting (and looking forward to) more from this author.
“Sydney!” My dad’s voice rips through the downstairs hall.
I poke my head out of the living room and call back. “What?”
“You’re not moving in with that boy!”
“I know Dad. I know.”
September 27, 2013
“Fame, friends, a gorgeous guy kissed you. Damn the world.”
First of all, I love the cover and the font! :)
Starkissed is a feel good story and I am sure it will make you smile after reading it. :)
Yes, it is a typical YA story wherein the guy is almost unreachable and the girl is the unpopular one. Yes, she said it herself:
"Unpopularity is my thing. I revel in it."
But there is something about the character of Sydney which made me love her. Yes, she became popular after that photo which showed Grant West, the dream of every girl, kissing her. And then after that, there are those typical popular people at school who suddenly wanted to become friends with her. The cheerleaders and the jocks, and some of her classmates who didn't even talk to her before that incident. What made me admire her more is that she did not let the popularity change her. In other stories, we always see girls like Sydney get all popular and then, be consumed by it and forget the real her, but the main character was not like that. She had maturity and she was wise enough to stay away from those people.
I don't know what I'd do if I were Sydney. She was unique in her own way but then she was always ignored because of her sisters who were all well-known in their schools. She had nothing special because she can't play sports well or because she was not good at something. But I think one thing that I can say about her is that - she was always a good daughter to her parents and was not a pain in the ass.
I also loved the comedic side of this story. :)
"Somebody, well my father, once told me that life is a series of tests and it doesn’t matter whether you pass or fail, only that you tried. My dad is full of crap like that. Sage wisdom he feels must be passed down to his daughters. I think he absorbed all his parenting skills from old episodes of The Brady Bunch, because if there’s ever been another dad so full of mushy crap, it’s Mr. Brady."
"Apparently my arrival in Grant’s life is bigger news than the economy."
Speaking of Grant West... Ahhh the swoon worthy boy. I honestly don't believe in love at first sight, but I think if one day, I get the chance to see someone like Grant, I'll probably believe in it. He is just so sweet, yet so mysterious and I wish that I get to know more of him because other than him being an actor, I didn't know anything else about him. How he grew up and where his family was.
Another guy in the story was Colin and I think he is sincere. But he is an example of those guys who will only realize your worth when you're gone and he sure made the story more interesting.
Also, I loved the fact that even though the Kane sisters were so different from each other, they still had the same thing that keeps them all together, and that is their love for every sister, even though they don't usually say or express it. I was honestly surprised by the change in their characters in the end. And how they all united because of Sydney.
STARKISSED is a feel good read that will make you laugh and fall in love at the same time.
Quotes that I liked from STARKISSED:
"..but maybe it’s just the genetic code of a teenager. If your parents forbid something, you have to want it."
"The idea of popularity is something I’ve considered. Believe me. I’ve often wondered what it might be like if everyone knew my name, if to the rest of the school I wasn’t just somebody’s sister, but Sydney Kane."
"And just look at Angelina. She’s a cookiecutter cheerleader and natural born bitch."
"My life is being taken over by a lie…and cheerleaders."
*I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.*
First of all, I love the cover and the font! :)
Starkissed is a feel good story and I am sure it will make you smile after reading it. :)
Yes, it is a typical YA story wherein the guy is almost unreachable and the girl is the unpopular one. Yes, she said it herself:
"Unpopularity is my thing. I revel in it."
But there is something about the character of Sydney which made me love her. Yes, she became popular after that photo which showed Grant West, the dream of every girl, kissing her. And then after that, there are those typical popular people at school who suddenly wanted to become friends with her. The cheerleaders and the jocks, and some of her classmates who didn't even talk to her before that incident. What made me admire her more is that she did not let the popularity change her. In other stories, we always see girls like Sydney get all popular and then, be consumed by it and forget the real her, but the main character was not like that. She had maturity and she was wise enough to stay away from those people.
I don't know what I'd do if I were Sydney. She was unique in her own way but then she was always ignored because of her sisters who were all well-known in their schools. She had nothing special because she can't play sports well or because she was not good at something. But I think one thing that I can say about her is that - she was always a good daughter to her parents and was not a pain in the ass.
I also loved the comedic side of this story. :)
"Somebody, well my father, once told me that life is a series of tests and it doesn’t matter whether you pass or fail, only that you tried. My dad is full of crap like that. Sage wisdom he feels must be passed down to his daughters. I think he absorbed all his parenting skills from old episodes of The Brady Bunch, because if there’s ever been another dad so full of mushy crap, it’s Mr. Brady."
"Apparently my arrival in Grant’s life is bigger news than the economy."
Speaking of Grant West... Ahhh the swoon worthy boy. I honestly don't believe in love at first sight, but I think if one day, I get the chance to see someone like Grant, I'll probably believe in it. He is just so sweet, yet so mysterious and I wish that I get to know more of him because other than him being an actor, I didn't know anything else about him. How he grew up and where his family was.
Another guy in the story was Colin and I think he is sincere. But he is an example of those guys who will only realize your worth when you're gone and he sure made the story more interesting.
Also, I loved the fact that even though the Kane sisters were so different from each other, they still had the same thing that keeps them all together, and that is their love for every sister, even though they don't usually say or express it. I was honestly surprised by the change in their characters in the end. And how they all united because of Sydney.
STARKISSED is a feel good read that will make you laugh and fall in love at the same time.
Quotes that I liked from STARKISSED:
"..but maybe it’s just the genetic code of a teenager. If your parents forbid something, you have to want it."
"The idea of popularity is something I’ve considered. Believe me. I’ve often wondered what it might be like if everyone knew my name, if to the rest of the school I wasn’t just somebody’s sister, but Sydney Kane."
"And just look at Angelina. She’s a cookiecutter cheerleader and natural born bitch."
"My life is being taken over by a lie…and cheerleaders."
*I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.*
June 27, 2015
"And when we kissed in the desert, maybe it started for the wrong reasons…but it ended with the right ones."
!!!!!! *swoons* !!!!!!
Starkissed is a fun, light, quick read. Great for when you just want something light to pass time with, something to warm your heart and make you smile. liked this book a lot. In fact, I finished it in a day. It was very easy to get lost in the pages of this book, and I looked forward to finding out how things would get resolved.
I liked Sydney 's character; how she was so "normal" but was never swayed by apparent popularity and people disguising themselves as her friends only when it suited them. She was also rather unusual by her response both to being kissed by Grant and the spectacle it led to. Not a fame seeker, nor a girl who wealth and power appeals to, she likes her quiet and ordinary life.
I also liked how she was the average sister among five exceptional ones, a thing that promised she'll somehow turnout to be the most extraordinary of them all.
Sydney's five sisters first looked very bad; the kind of sisters Cinderella had, sort of. But by the ending of the story all turned out to be quite fabulous. It was one of those cases where you piss each other off, but in the end you still love one another greatly. (*coughcough* just like my brother and I *coughcough*)
We had two love interests in the story, as the summary well promises. While not being a fan of love triangles, I liked both prospects and found this love triangle quite enjoyable, as it felt more like dealing with teenage crushes that being actually in love with both of them at the same time, which is what bothers me about love triangles in the first place.
The first option is Grant . He's a movie star, and I liked him and his surprisingly down-to-earth attitude. He did not seem like a movie star when he was with Sydney. He was also the one of the the two possibilities that actually chased after Sydney, declaring that he liked her.
Then there was Colin . He was fine until That's when I started rooting for Grant. Colin wasn't bad; he was a nice and kind person, but also a person Sydney built an entire fantasy around--one he wasn't able to live up to, I think. In the end, for me, he wasn't enough of a man,
I did feel as though the relationships in the book advanced rather quickly. While Grant/Sydney moments were very sweet in their nature... there weren't many of them.
God, I loved that bit of Epilogue at the end! Her dad's hilarious, but aside for that it was really nice to know they were still going strong! ❤
!!!!!! *swoons* !!!!!!
Starkissed is a fun, light, quick read. Great for when you just want something light to pass time with, something to warm your heart and make you smile. liked this book a lot. In fact, I finished it in a day. It was very easy to get lost in the pages of this book, and I looked forward to finding out how things would get resolved.
I liked Sydney 's character; how she was so "normal" but was never swayed by apparent popularity and people disguising themselves as her friends only when it suited them. She was also rather unusual by her response both to being kissed by Grant and the spectacle it led to. Not a fame seeker, nor a girl who wealth and power appeals to, she likes her quiet and ordinary life.
I also liked how she was the average sister among five exceptional ones, a thing that promised she'll somehow turnout to be the most extraordinary of them all.
Sydney's five sisters first looked very bad; the kind of sisters Cinderella had, sort of. But by the ending of the story all turned out to be quite fabulous. It was one of those cases where you piss each other off, but in the end you still love one another greatly. (*coughcough* just like my brother and I *coughcough*)
We had two love interests in the story, as the summary well promises. While not being a fan of love triangles, I liked both prospects and found this love triangle quite enjoyable, as it felt more like dealing with teenage crushes that being actually in love with both of them at the same time, which is what bothers me about love triangles in the first place.
The first option is Grant . He's a movie star, and I liked him and his surprisingly down-to-earth attitude. He did not seem like a movie star when he was with Sydney. He was also the one of the the two possibilities that actually chased after Sydney, declaring that he liked her.
Then there was Colin . He was fine until That's when I started rooting for Grant. Colin wasn't bad; he was a nice and kind person, but also a person Sydney built an entire fantasy around--one he wasn't able to live up to, I think. In the end, for me, he wasn't enough of a man,
I did feel as though the relationships in the book advanced rather quickly. While Grant/Sydney moments were very sweet in their nature... there weren't many of them.
God, I loved that bit of Epilogue at the end! Her dad's hilarious, but aside for that it was really nice to know they were still going strong! ❤
July 9, 2014
I received a free copy of an ebook in exchange for an honest review through the ♥!The Young Adult Book Club!♥
I honestly don’t know where to begin. When I signed up to review Starkissed, I didn’t have such high expectations for it. I just thought that it would be a fun book to read and a good way to pass the time. But heck, I was wrong!
This just might be the most refreshing, light feeling, and entertaining book I’ve ever read. Sure it was short and kind of moved too slowly at the beginning (to my liking), but as I read further, I just savored every bit of it. I adore Sydney Kane’s sarcasm and her candid and quirky personality. She’s a great person without her knowing it and I just love her for that. And of course, there’s Grant West. He’s charming and sweet and I can’t figure out why, but he made me smile a number of times with his ‘out of the blue but really sweet’ lines, *sigh*. Although, I did not get enough Sydney and Grant moments, their numbered interactions were definitely full of melt in your bones moments.
Starkissed is also filled with other supporting characters who are all equally appalling and fun to read. I especially adore the Kane family members. They’re pretty extraordinary and I like the lively, happy vibe around them even through all the “drama”.
Starkissed is all parts romance, drama and fun. It wasn’t at all what I expected and I’m glad it turned out to be pretty awesome. I just hope it was longer though and that would have given us more of Sydney and Grant and all the buzz that comes with the Hollywood life, but then again, I still loved it.
You should absolutely read this!
I honestly don’t know where to begin. When I signed up to review Starkissed, I didn’t have such high expectations for it. I just thought that it would be a fun book to read and a good way to pass the time. But heck, I was wrong!
This just might be the most refreshing, light feeling, and entertaining book I’ve ever read. Sure it was short and kind of moved too slowly at the beginning (to my liking), but as I read further, I just savored every bit of it. I adore Sydney Kane’s sarcasm and her candid and quirky personality. She’s a great person without her knowing it and I just love her for that. And of course, there’s Grant West. He’s charming and sweet and I can’t figure out why, but he made me smile a number of times with his ‘out of the blue but really sweet’ lines, *sigh*. Although, I did not get enough Sydney and Grant moments, their numbered interactions were definitely full of melt in your bones moments.
Starkissed is also filled with other supporting characters who are all equally appalling and fun to read. I especially adore the Kane family members. They’re pretty extraordinary and I like the lively, happy vibe around them even through all the “drama”.
Starkissed is all parts romance, drama and fun. It wasn’t at all what I expected and I’m glad it turned out to be pretty awesome. I just hope it was longer though and that would have given us more of Sydney and Grant and all the buzz that comes with the Hollywood life, but then again, I still loved it.
You should absolutely read this!
October 10, 2015
3.5 Stars
The story is pretty cute, but too many annoying characters that drive me crazy. I'm not a really patient person, so reading a book with too many bitches in it is really pissed me off.
Full review to follow once I'm in the mood to write one. LOL
The story is pretty cute, but too many annoying characters that drive me crazy. I'm not a really patient person, so reading a book with too many bitches in it is really pissed me off.
Full review to follow once I'm in the mood to write one. LOL
August 23, 2012
So I just read this entire book in a marathon 2 hour session. And I didn't feel a minute of that go by, which most readers will know is a very good sign.
The novel begins with Sydney visiting her sister in New York where she runs into NYU student Grant. They hit it off and, although they only talk for a few minutes, when she leaves he kisses her. A sweet and romantic experience Sydney thinks but, seeing as she doesn't know his last name or anything else about him, that's all its going to be right? Wrong. Turns out Grant is a famous actor and small-town girl Sydney has just been thrown into the public eye. The story follows Sydney as she tries to see past Grant's fame to the guy she first met and has to deal with the fame-hungry horde at her high school
I'll start this off with saying straight off I'm not a huge YA fan. A lot of YA literature is overdone and there are so many identikit books out there that it's hard to pick out the good form the bad. But trust me Starkissed is definitely one of the good. If you want a fun, light and entertaining read then definitely check this book out. Sure there are some cliches such as the plain girl realising she's not actually that plain but to be honest she still remains believable. That's actually my biggest compliment for this book - a quick glance at the plot might make you write it off as unrealistic and although overall it might be, the writing doesn't make you think that all. There's no over the top gushing(except maybe from Sydney's best friends Caroline, but that's exactly what she's there for), there's just simple story-telling which is so refreshing for the YA genre that I want to scream. With joy of course. Sure you're not going to find yourself questioning the meaning of life when you're finished but that's not why you pick up a book like this. You pick it up to escape from how dreary life is sometimes and this book will definitely distract you.
The cast of characters are entertaining, especially the rest of the Kane sisters and I love the very different personalities they all have. The love triangle is....interesting. It's different to most love triangles I've seen in YA before and I really liked it - it was much more realistic and didn't leave my pulling my hair out because I thought the wrong guy had been picked, (of course we might have different opinions on who the right guy is :P )
Overall this book ticked so many boxes for me. I can't help but bang on about it but it is SO REFRESHING to see a YA novel that is written simply and well without over-using cliches or ridiculously over the top language. This book is a must-read for anyone who has a few hours to spare and wants to relax with a light, comforting and delightful story.
The novel begins with Sydney visiting her sister in New York where she runs into NYU student Grant. They hit it off and, although they only talk for a few minutes, when she leaves he kisses her. A sweet and romantic experience Sydney thinks but, seeing as she doesn't know his last name or anything else about him, that's all its going to be right? Wrong. Turns out Grant is a famous actor and small-town girl Sydney has just been thrown into the public eye. The story follows Sydney as she tries to see past Grant's fame to the guy she first met and has to deal with the fame-hungry horde at her high school
I'll start this off with saying straight off I'm not a huge YA fan. A lot of YA literature is overdone and there are so many identikit books out there that it's hard to pick out the good form the bad. But trust me Starkissed is definitely one of the good. If you want a fun, light and entertaining read then definitely check this book out. Sure there are some cliches such as the plain girl realising she's not actually that plain but to be honest she still remains believable. That's actually my biggest compliment for this book - a quick glance at the plot might make you write it off as unrealistic and although overall it might be, the writing doesn't make you think that all. There's no over the top gushing(except maybe from Sydney's best friends Caroline, but that's exactly what she's there for), there's just simple story-telling which is so refreshing for the YA genre that I want to scream. With joy of course. Sure you're not going to find yourself questioning the meaning of life when you're finished but that's not why you pick up a book like this. You pick it up to escape from how dreary life is sometimes and this book will definitely distract you.
The cast of characters are entertaining, especially the rest of the Kane sisters and I love the very different personalities they all have. The love triangle is....interesting. It's different to most love triangles I've seen in YA before and I really liked it - it was much more realistic and didn't leave my pulling my hair out because I thought the wrong guy had been picked, (of course we might have different opinions on who the right guy is :P )
Overall this book ticked so many boxes for me. I can't help but bang on about it but it is SO REFRESHING to see a YA novel that is written simply and well without over-using cliches or ridiculously over the top language. This book is a must-read for anyone who has a few hours to spare and wants to relax with a light, comforting and delightful story.
October 7, 2012
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Brynna.
Starkissed is a very sweet, cute story. Sydney Kane, the protagonist of the story, has been "in love" with a boy for several years; however, as teenage drama would have it, he does't notice her much. As the story progresses, Kane goes to NY to visit one of her sisters and "bumps" into a guy named Grant. As one might guess, a "sort of" love triangle ensues.
How does a young girl, only a junior in high school, know when she is in love? Or does she need others to "see it" for her and help her to realize her own feelings? Does a girl just go after what she wants or sit back and wait for it to happen?
One aspect of the plot that I like is Sydney's relationship with her sisters, all of whom are gorgeous. Sisterly jealousy, frustration, anger, protection, revenge, all come in to play. Which of her sisters step up to the plate when Sydney is so desperate for them to be there for her?
Add to all of this an overprotective and possibly overly strict father, a mother who loves attention, and a school full of not-so-into Sydney kids, and you have a great backdrop for a good story full of drams.
I recommend to anyone who enjoys a cute, sweet, and quick read for a relaxing day with a good book.
Starkissed is a very sweet, cute story. Sydney Kane, the protagonist of the story, has been "in love" with a boy for several years; however, as teenage drama would have it, he does't notice her much. As the story progresses, Kane goes to NY to visit one of her sisters and "bumps" into a guy named Grant. As one might guess, a "sort of" love triangle ensues.
How does a young girl, only a junior in high school, know when she is in love? Or does she need others to "see it" for her and help her to realize her own feelings? Does a girl just go after what she wants or sit back and wait for it to happen?
One aspect of the plot that I like is Sydney's relationship with her sisters, all of whom are gorgeous. Sisterly jealousy, frustration, anger, protection, revenge, all come in to play. Which of her sisters step up to the plate when Sydney is so desperate for them to be there for her?
Add to all of this an overprotective and possibly overly strict father, a mother who loves attention, and a school full of not-so-into Sydney kids, and you have a great backdrop for a good story full of drams.
I recommend to anyone who enjoys a cute, sweet, and quick read for a relaxing day with a good book.
August 2, 2013
Cute. Kind of like The Accidental Movie Star, which was also very cute.
I liked the premise and the blurb and the book was exactly what I expected. I liked the pace. Nothing was too rushed or unnatural; no feelings were unnecessarily triggered, and nothing moved too fast. In fact for quarter of the book Grant didn't show up which made me think that maybe the story was about Colin and Sydney. But then he showed up and it was a love triangle, which, was ugh. But that was what the story was about. She fell in love and had to choose. I was happy with the decision she made! I was rooting for him all along! And what she did at the end took some guts! I was feeling all the things Sydney was going through and that was maybe the best part. She found her identity and found the love of her life in the process. Awesome! :)
I liked the premise and the blurb and the book was exactly what I expected. I liked the pace. Nothing was too rushed or unnatural; no feelings were unnecessarily triggered, and nothing moved too fast. In fact for quarter of the book Grant didn't show up which made me think that maybe the story was about Colin and Sydney. But then he showed up and it was a love triangle, which, was ugh. But that was what the story was about. She fell in love and had to choose. I was happy with the decision she made! I was rooting for him all along! And what she did at the end took some guts! I was feeling all the things Sydney was going through and that was maybe the best part. She found her identity and found the love of her life in the process. Awesome! :)
January 4, 2013
So I love these kinda books, if anyone has read something similar to it, don't hesitate to comment and recommend me some reads!
This book was real cute, Grant was just as swoon-worthy as Hollywood stars are supposed to be and Colin well pissed me off.
Her sisters weren't actually all that bad and Caroline well she turned out to be nothing more than a class A biatch.
I was so happy with Sydney's decision in the end I mean Colin only noticed her when the everyone else did and her face was plastered over every celeb magazine.
That's epilogue at the end had me creased. Her father was worst than mine and that's saying something. He took the meaning of overprotective to a whole other level. But at least it showed he cared.
This book was real cute, Grant was just as swoon-worthy as Hollywood stars are supposed to be and Colin well pissed me off.
Her sisters weren't actually all that bad and Caroline well she turned out to be nothing more than a class A biatch.
I was so happy with Sydney's decision in the end I mean Colin only noticed her when the everyone else did and her face was plastered over every celeb magazine.
That's epilogue at the end had me creased. Her father was worst than mine and that's saying something. He took the meaning of overprotective to a whole other level. But at least it showed he cared.
August 23, 2012
First of all, I'd like to thank the author for giving me a free copy! *hugs* YOU ARE AWESOME!
To me, the story to begin with started out a little slow but I understand it needed to be that way to bring in all the characters. It allowed you to picture all the sisters in your head. They each have a different personality and are each beautiful. Sydney is too but she just doesn't see it because she doesn't look like the rest of her siblings. Once Sydney meets Grant, I couldn't stop clicking the next button on my Kindle. I needed, or rather had to know what would happen next. Would Grant come back? Would they ever meet again? Why did he kiss her without getting her number? COME ON MAN! I'll let you find out yourself! ;)
This story is cute and I love the whole famous person-meets normal girl scenario. Probably one of my favorite summer reads this summer. You should pick up this book today!
My favorite parts:
Rating: 4.5 because I wish it was longer, among other things. But overall, a great read! I can not wait to read more from this author! :)
To me, the story to begin with started out a little slow but I understand it needed to be that way to bring in all the characters. It allowed you to picture all the sisters in your head. They each have a different personality and are each beautiful. Sydney is too but she just doesn't see it because she doesn't look like the rest of her siblings. Once Sydney meets Grant, I couldn't stop clicking the next button on my Kindle. I needed, or rather had to know what would happen next. Would Grant come back? Would they ever meet again? Why did he kiss her without getting her number? COME ON MAN! I'll let you find out yourself! ;)
This story is cute and I love the whole famous person-meets normal girl scenario. Probably one of my favorite summer reads this summer. You should pick up this book today!
My favorite parts:
Rating: 4.5 because I wish it was longer, among other things. But overall, a great read! I can not wait to read more from this author! :)
October 19, 2012
More of my reviews at Secrets of Lost Words
You can also read this review here
*A review copy was provided by the author for reviewing purposes*
Thanks to Brynna Gabrielson for the review copy! :)
The Cover: So pretty!! Eh. I thought Sydney wasn't blond. Nonetheless, this looks very pretty!
My Thoughts:
Aww... This story was really sweet. From the beginning, we find out Sydney is a girl who is very different from her sisters. She doesn't have blond hair or blue eyes. And she hates it when people say she's a cousin of the Kane family.
"I've been here for ages looking for you. I'm Alyssa's assistant, Topher. She just told me I was picking up her sister... she didn't give a description and really... because of her other sisters.. I just thought..."
"That I would look like her?"
"Well yeah, " he nods, as if my being born a brunette is the worst thing that's ever happened to him. All I can say is: get in line buddy.
For Spring Break, she goes to New York to visit her sister, Alyssa. There she meets the super star "Zombie Boy" Grant West. Of course she is clueless he's a celebrity since she doesn't keep up much with news (like me). There, she got Starkissed.
"So let me get this straight. You hit him with your chair, smacked him with your forehead, and told him the movie he's most famous for is crap?""It sounds really bad when you lay it all out like that.""And he still kissed you?" Disbelief fills her face."Yes.""I don't get it.""Join the club."
Really, it's comical. Guess Grant likes her so much, he came back for round two? *wiggles eyebrows*
This one was a really fluffy, frilly story for me. I don't usually read these kind of books. But when I started reading, I fell in love with Sydney and Grant. I can understand Sydney, living in her sister's shadows and pining for a boy who can't be hers. Actually lots of books are like this it's so common. But I understand where she is coming from and why she might hate all the attention everyone is giving her. I mean, c'mon, most people in her town probably won't noticed if she got wiped off of the face of the Earth before she kissed Zombie Boy.
I was laughing, crying, jumping up and down as Sydney's story progressed. Once I shouted out, "NOOOOO!!!" so loudly my mom was looking at me funny. I don't know, I guess I felt really into the story that I actually care how their ending will turn out.
Looking for a book to take your mind off of things? This is it!
You can also read this review here
*A review copy was provided by the author for reviewing purposes*
Thanks to Brynna Gabrielson for the review copy! :)
The Cover: So pretty!! Eh. I thought Sydney wasn't blond. Nonetheless, this looks very pretty!
My Thoughts:
Aww... This story was really sweet. From the beginning, we find out Sydney is a girl who is very different from her sisters. She doesn't have blond hair or blue eyes. And she hates it when people say she's a cousin of the Kane family.
"I've been here for ages looking for you. I'm Alyssa's assistant, Topher. She just told me I was picking up her sister... she didn't give a description and really... because of her other sisters.. I just thought..."
"That I would look like her?"
"Well yeah, " he nods, as if my being born a brunette is the worst thing that's ever happened to him. All I can say is: get in line buddy.
For Spring Break, she goes to New York to visit her sister, Alyssa. There she meets the super star "Zombie Boy" Grant West. Of course she is clueless he's a celebrity since she doesn't keep up much with news (like me). There, she got Starkissed.
"So let me get this straight. You hit him with your chair, smacked him with your forehead, and told him the movie he's most famous for is crap?""It sounds really bad when you lay it all out like that.""And he still kissed you?" Disbelief fills her face."Yes.""I don't get it.""Join the club."
Really, it's comical. Guess Grant likes her so much, he came back for round two? *wiggles eyebrows*
This one was a really fluffy, frilly story for me. I don't usually read these kind of books. But when I started reading, I fell in love with Sydney and Grant. I can understand Sydney, living in her sister's shadows and pining for a boy who can't be hers. Actually lots of books are like this it's so common. But I understand where she is coming from and why she might hate all the attention everyone is giving her. I mean, c'mon, most people in her town probably won't noticed if she got wiped off of the face of the Earth before she kissed Zombie Boy.
I was laughing, crying, jumping up and down as Sydney's story progressed. Once I shouted out, "NOOOOO!!!" so loudly my mom was looking at me funny. I don't know, I guess I felt really into the story that I actually care how their ending will turn out.
Looking for a book to take your mind off of things? This is it!
November 29, 2015
2.5
Starkissed war das letzte Starbuch, was ich in meiner Manie gelesen habe... und es wird sicher auch für eine Weile das letzte bleiben.
Vielleicht lag es auch mit daran, dass ich zu dem Zeitpunkt einfach schon zu viele Bücher dieser Art gelesen hatte, aber mir wollte Starkissed nicht so recht gefallen.
Hier geht es um Sydney, die bei einem Besuch ihrer großen Schwester zufällig auf Grant West, DEN Teeniestar schlechthin trifft. Dass sie da gerade mit Grant spricht, das ahnt sie nicht. Selbst dann nicht, als sie mit ihm gemeinsam ein Restaurant verlässt und er sie plötzlich vor jeder Menge Paparazzi küsst. Die, so glaubt sie, sind ohnehin nur da, weil da gerade Grants Exfreunden, ebenfalls Schauspielerin, mit ihrem neuen Freund aufgetaucht ist. Leicht verwundert darüber, warum ein Typ sie küsst, der gerade mal ein paar Worte mit ihr gewechselt hat, kehrt sie also nach Hause zurück und glaube, ihr Leben einfach weiterleben zu können... Bis sie die Bilder überall in den Zeitungen sieht und Grant live und in Farbe im Fernsehen verkündet, dass er jetzt mit ihr, mit Sydney zusammen ist...
Die Idee hinter der Geschichte fand ich gar nicht schlecht, aber mein Problem war,dass ich zwischen den beiden Hauptcharakteren einfach null Chemie gespürt habe. Man hat so gar nicht verstanden, warum die zwei sich jetzt daten wollen und was sie aneinander mögen. Und dann ist da noch die Tatsache, dass Sydney in den On-Off-Freund ihrer Schwester verliebt ist und zwischen DENEN stimmte definitiv die Chemie. Hätte der sich zum Ende hin nicht wie der letzte Dödel benommen, hätte ich es sogar besser gefunden, wenn sie mit ihm zusammen gekommen wäre. Auch war die Sache mit ihren 10.000 Schwestern... Die haben sich ja teilweise echt behandelt wie Dreck! Auch das mit dem Freund von ihrer einen Schwester und was da am Ende rauskam... Neee...
Ich finde das echt schade, weil man Sydney als Hauptcharakter eigentlich wirklich mag. Leider reichte das nicht aus, um die fehlende Chemie zwischen den Hauptcharakteren auszugleichen... Schade, schade...
Starkissed war das letzte Starbuch, was ich in meiner Manie gelesen habe... und es wird sicher auch für eine Weile das letzte bleiben.
Vielleicht lag es auch mit daran, dass ich zu dem Zeitpunkt einfach schon zu viele Bücher dieser Art gelesen hatte, aber mir wollte Starkissed nicht so recht gefallen.
Hier geht es um Sydney, die bei einem Besuch ihrer großen Schwester zufällig auf Grant West, DEN Teeniestar schlechthin trifft. Dass sie da gerade mit Grant spricht, das ahnt sie nicht. Selbst dann nicht, als sie mit ihm gemeinsam ein Restaurant verlässt und er sie plötzlich vor jeder Menge Paparazzi küsst. Die, so glaubt sie, sind ohnehin nur da, weil da gerade Grants Exfreunden, ebenfalls Schauspielerin, mit ihrem neuen Freund aufgetaucht ist. Leicht verwundert darüber, warum ein Typ sie küsst, der gerade mal ein paar Worte mit ihr gewechselt hat, kehrt sie also nach Hause zurück und glaube, ihr Leben einfach weiterleben zu können... Bis sie die Bilder überall in den Zeitungen sieht und Grant live und in Farbe im Fernsehen verkündet, dass er jetzt mit ihr, mit Sydney zusammen ist...
Die Idee hinter der Geschichte fand ich gar nicht schlecht, aber mein Problem war,dass ich zwischen den beiden Hauptcharakteren einfach null Chemie gespürt habe. Man hat so gar nicht verstanden, warum die zwei sich jetzt daten wollen und was sie aneinander mögen. Und dann ist da noch die Tatsache, dass Sydney in den On-Off-Freund ihrer Schwester verliebt ist und zwischen DENEN stimmte definitiv die Chemie. Hätte der sich zum Ende hin nicht wie der letzte Dödel benommen, hätte ich es sogar besser gefunden, wenn sie mit ihm zusammen gekommen wäre. Auch war die Sache mit ihren 10.000 Schwestern... Die haben sich ja teilweise echt behandelt wie Dreck! Auch das mit dem Freund von ihrer einen Schwester und was da am Ende rauskam... Neee...
Ich finde das echt schade, weil man Sydney als Hauptcharakter eigentlich wirklich mag. Leider reichte das nicht aus, um die fehlende Chemie zwischen den Hauptcharakteren auszugleichen... Schade, schade...
December 29, 2014
When I started this book I honestly didn't know whether I was going to love it or hate it, but after a few chapters I decided that I absolutely loved it.
Yes, this book is kind of cheesy and cliché but that's what I love about it. That is what makes it so much fun to read!
I fell in love with the main character, Sydney right away because she is just a typical teenager and exactly like me, she feels left out and like she doesn't fit in, which is something many teenagers feel everyday. I can relate to the relationships she has with her friends as they are very similar to my friendships.
Futhermore, the author wrote "maybe it’s just the genetic code of a teenager. If your parents forbid something, you have to want it." I could relate to this incredibly well as I too am a teenager and I always feel the urge to do stuff just because my parents said not to!
I also love the way the author wrote about Sydney's warring emotions over her two love interests, Grant and Colin, many teenagers feel emotions like this over crushes, so the author managed to write exactly what any teenage girl would be feeling.
The author successfully writes about what it is like to be a teenager so that any other teen reading this will 100% be able to relate easily to Sydney. In addition, the author manages to maintain a real grasp of reality whilst the madness is happening to Sydney throughout the book, this is good as it stops the story becoming just another unrealistic fairytale.
While reading this book the pages just turned themselves and I finished the book within 3 hours, I literally could not put it down. I absolutely recommend this book to all teenage girls out there!
Yes, this book is kind of cheesy and cliché but that's what I love about it. That is what makes it so much fun to read!
I fell in love with the main character, Sydney right away because she is just a typical teenager and exactly like me, she feels left out and like she doesn't fit in, which is something many teenagers feel everyday. I can relate to the relationships she has with her friends as they are very similar to my friendships.
Futhermore, the author wrote "maybe it’s just the genetic code of a teenager. If your parents forbid something, you have to want it." I could relate to this incredibly well as I too am a teenager and I always feel the urge to do stuff just because my parents said not to!
I also love the way the author wrote about Sydney's warring emotions over her two love interests, Grant and Colin, many teenagers feel emotions like this over crushes, so the author managed to write exactly what any teenage girl would be feeling.
The author successfully writes about what it is like to be a teenager so that any other teen reading this will 100% be able to relate easily to Sydney. In addition, the author manages to maintain a real grasp of reality whilst the madness is happening to Sydney throughout the book, this is good as it stops the story becoming just another unrealistic fairytale.
While reading this book the pages just turned themselves and I finished the book within 3 hours, I literally could not put it down. I absolutely recommend this book to all teenage girls out there!
August 24, 2012
Awww! This book was adorable! It had me grinning goofily at the end of the book. x)
The characters were awesome! Sydney was so down-to-earth, smart, and funny. Admittedly, she did not give her sisters enough credit, but her blindness was understandable. Sometimes her sisters were rude. Gabrielson made sure each character had their own personality, and it was believable. I loved how I honestly didn't know who Sydney would choose in the end. Normally, it would be obvious by the middle of the book, but it wasn't! I had to really reflect and think because each guy had their pros and cons. I really enjoyed that (:
I even teared up once or twice when I read…two certain parts. ;p
I loved it! Highly recommended! (:
The characters were awesome! Sydney was so down-to-earth, smart, and funny. Admittedly, she did not give her sisters enough credit, but her blindness was understandable. Sometimes her sisters were rude. Gabrielson made sure each character had their own personality, and it was believable. I loved how I honestly didn't know who Sydney would choose in the end. Normally, it would be obvious by the middle of the book, but it wasn't! I had to really reflect and think because each guy had their pros and cons. I really enjoyed that (:
I even teared up once or twice when I read…two certain parts. ;p
I loved it! Highly recommended! (:
January 1, 2013
It was an amazing book, different from what I expected, but beautiful right until the end.
She was a brave girl even if she didn't realize it her self.
What I liked the most is that you can almost feel her frustration with the people around her and with her self.
Her father made me laugh with his protective streak which I should admit it's not all that funny in real life.
The only thing that should have been more intense was her love for Grant, I feel like they didn't spend enough time together and that their connection should have been more explicit.
September 3, 2012
Cute story nice good relaxing quick read but loved the characters. Not what I expected but in a good way :D This had me reading till 4am to finish so you can totally say that it caught my attention. :)
April 17, 2021
3.5 stars
Re-read April 2021
Re-read February 2020
Re-read October 2018
Re-read April 2018
Fun and super cute. Loved it.
Re-read April 2021
Re-read February 2020
Re-read October 2018
Re-read April 2018
Fun and super cute. Loved it.
January 26, 2013
Thought this one was super cute and fun. Loved it.
August 17, 2012
First Thoughts:
This book was so different from what I’ve been reading lately, it has a lot of drama and comical scenes…it’s the kind of book I would classify into the “Fluff” category, it has a lot of romance and teen thinking. I really enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t so deep and emotional. I liked that I didn’t have to think so hard to figure out what was going on. It was an easy and fun book to read. I enjoyed that this book had a more realistic world, where you the reader can imagine something like this plot happening to you (Though I don’t think I would quite fit into this world, lol). Either way this book was a very fast and adorable read!
Plot:
There was definitely plenty of conflict throughout the book, there was always something coming up. And the story of the famous actor meeting unsuspecting average girl was so cute and adorable to read. I didn’t really think there were any dull moments in this book. I enjoyed the concept of two people coming together who might have not if fate hadn’t stepped in. This was definitely a story filled with teen ideas and problems and it really allowed me to step back and see how different my life is from this book. And the build-up of the action and climax was very well executed, I could easily pick apart each of plot elements and see which each conflict was apart the plotline. As for the world itself, like I mentioned earlier it was realistic and very easily seen. I haven’t ever lived in Arizona or been to New York but the author was really able to make it fit into the plot so that the reader could understand each city’s significance and why she chose those particular cities. And the small towns feel really added to the realistic fiber of the story itself. I thought adding in the closeness made impossibility of this story ever happening even more real and awe-inspiring. And I really enjoyed the ending to this book, I felt the author wrapped up any loose ends and really allowed the reader a small glimpse into the future. I liked the epilogue especially, it really took away any lingering thoughts I might have had. So overall I thought the plot was good, and adhered to its predicted experience.
Romance:
Yes there was romance in this book and yes it was one of the major conflicts of the story but I knew that going into the book so I knew to expect that. I didn’t necessary enjoy the love triangle feel (never really been a fan) but it wasn’t that bad. There were moments I wanted to shout at Sydney because of her thoughts but when you sit down to really think it all makes sense and you really can’t get upset with her for thinking the way she does. And the build-up of the relationship between the couples was realistic, it wasn’t so easy or they didn’t connect at first contact. I really enjoyed the realistic romance in this story because it makes it more believable and attainable to the reader. But overall the romance was gushy and at times very fun to read.
Characters:
I really enjoyed the characters especially Grant! He was such a great character to get to know and really understand his line of thinking. I was really able to connect with him and really enjoy his company. And as for Sydney I had a little trouble connecting with her in the beginning but shortly after I was able to really understand her and see how she sees the world and it really allowed me to connect with her and sympathize with her situation. And as for more of the more minor characters I think they played their parts right and really brought enough conflict and ideas to the story. I didn’t think there were any unnecessary characters in the book; each one had their own role to play. So overall I liked the mixture of personalities and enjoyed getting to know each one.
Transformation of the Character:
So Sydney does make a transformation throughout this book. It’s somewhat noticeable but it’s kind of subtle at the same time. I liked the transformation though because it wasn’t rushed or made to look unbelievable. This transformation really reminded me of a butterfly’s transformation because the process Sydney had to go through really was just like the caterpillar transformation, it was hard and ugly at times but in the end it turned out to be something so amazing and beautiful. So overall I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
Description:
Really enjoyed the description in the story especially when the author described the scenery. I was really able to see what New York life is all about even when the scenes of New York were limited. And the description of the small town where she lived really reminded me of the small town I used to live as a child…I could see the connections very easily and the atmospheres were very similar and really made the story that more believable. And I did enjoy the emotions in this book; they were very light and easy to feel. There was the gooey feeling of love, the anger and the sadness, each emotion was expertly used to capture the characters thoughts and feelings. And the dialogue was true to the character and used in just the right moments of the book. So overall I didn’t really find any issues with the description and thought it was well used.
Style:
This was written in one POV and in first person which allowed the reader to really understand Sydney’s perspective. I enjoyed that we were able to see only her view because it made the story more focused and easier to understand. And as for the writing it was easy and fun to read. I did find some grammar errors but there wasn’t enough to really annoy me. So overall this aspect was good and I really enjoyed reading a new author’s writing.
Quote of the Book:
“I kiss him until the rest of the world disappears…until there’s nothing left but the blaze of Grant’s touch and the stars above us.”
Goodreads Summary:
Kissing movie star Grant West may be every teenage girl’s dream, but when it happens to Sydney Kane, it’s nothing but a nightmare. Sure he’s cute, but having her face plastered all over celebrity gossip blogs is not something she’s interested in. Now cheerleaders are trying to befriend her, reporters won’t stop calling, and her mother keeps chasing her with a curling iron so she won’t be caught by the paparazzi with flat hair ever again.
Forgetting Grant is all Sydney wants and Colin, the guy she’s had a crush on since seventh grade, seems like a pretty good way to do it. Then Grant shows up at Sydney’s door begging for a second chance and the more she gets to know him, the more she isn’t sure she wants him to go away. But with Grant in the picture, Colin is backing off and she definitely doesn’t want that. Everything is a mess and Sydney doesn’t know what to do, who to choose, or how to make those pesky cheerleaders leave her alone. She only knows one thing for sure, being STARKISSED isn’t a dream come true at all.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to YA and romance readers. This does have a lot of romance so if you’re not a fan then this book probably won’t be for you. But I overall enjoyed this book and thought it was a fast and easy read. It’s nice not to read a book all about the supernatural or a book with deep underlining issues. Overall I would definitely read another book by this author and look forward to seeing what else she has planned for her readers.
This book was so different from what I’ve been reading lately, it has a lot of drama and comical scenes…it’s the kind of book I would classify into the “Fluff” category, it has a lot of romance and teen thinking. I really enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t so deep and emotional. I liked that I didn’t have to think so hard to figure out what was going on. It was an easy and fun book to read. I enjoyed that this book had a more realistic world, where you the reader can imagine something like this plot happening to you (Though I don’t think I would quite fit into this world, lol). Either way this book was a very fast and adorable read!
Plot:
There was definitely plenty of conflict throughout the book, there was always something coming up. And the story of the famous actor meeting unsuspecting average girl was so cute and adorable to read. I didn’t really think there were any dull moments in this book. I enjoyed the concept of two people coming together who might have not if fate hadn’t stepped in. This was definitely a story filled with teen ideas and problems and it really allowed me to step back and see how different my life is from this book. And the build-up of the action and climax was very well executed, I could easily pick apart each of plot elements and see which each conflict was apart the plotline. As for the world itself, like I mentioned earlier it was realistic and very easily seen. I haven’t ever lived in Arizona or been to New York but the author was really able to make it fit into the plot so that the reader could understand each city’s significance and why she chose those particular cities. And the small towns feel really added to the realistic fiber of the story itself. I thought adding in the closeness made impossibility of this story ever happening even more real and awe-inspiring. And I really enjoyed the ending to this book, I felt the author wrapped up any loose ends and really allowed the reader a small glimpse into the future. I liked the epilogue especially, it really took away any lingering thoughts I might have had. So overall I thought the plot was good, and adhered to its predicted experience.
Romance:
Yes there was romance in this book and yes it was one of the major conflicts of the story but I knew that going into the book so I knew to expect that. I didn’t necessary enjoy the love triangle feel (never really been a fan) but it wasn’t that bad. There were moments I wanted to shout at Sydney because of her thoughts but when you sit down to really think it all makes sense and you really can’t get upset with her for thinking the way she does. And the build-up of the relationship between the couples was realistic, it wasn’t so easy or they didn’t connect at first contact. I really enjoyed the realistic romance in this story because it makes it more believable and attainable to the reader. But overall the romance was gushy and at times very fun to read.
Characters:
I really enjoyed the characters especially Grant! He was such a great character to get to know and really understand his line of thinking. I was really able to connect with him and really enjoy his company. And as for Sydney I had a little trouble connecting with her in the beginning but shortly after I was able to really understand her and see how she sees the world and it really allowed me to connect with her and sympathize with her situation. And as for more of the more minor characters I think they played their parts right and really brought enough conflict and ideas to the story. I didn’t think there were any unnecessary characters in the book; each one had their own role to play. So overall I liked the mixture of personalities and enjoyed getting to know each one.
Transformation of the Character:
So Sydney does make a transformation throughout this book. It’s somewhat noticeable but it’s kind of subtle at the same time. I liked the transformation though because it wasn’t rushed or made to look unbelievable. This transformation really reminded me of a butterfly’s transformation because the process Sydney had to go through really was just like the caterpillar transformation, it was hard and ugly at times but in the end it turned out to be something so amazing and beautiful. So overall I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
Description:
Really enjoyed the description in the story especially when the author described the scenery. I was really able to see what New York life is all about even when the scenes of New York were limited. And the description of the small town where she lived really reminded me of the small town I used to live as a child…I could see the connections very easily and the atmospheres were very similar and really made the story that more believable. And I did enjoy the emotions in this book; they were very light and easy to feel. There was the gooey feeling of love, the anger and the sadness, each emotion was expertly used to capture the characters thoughts and feelings. And the dialogue was true to the character and used in just the right moments of the book. So overall I didn’t really find any issues with the description and thought it was well used.
Style:
This was written in one POV and in first person which allowed the reader to really understand Sydney’s perspective. I enjoyed that we were able to see only her view because it made the story more focused and easier to understand. And as for the writing it was easy and fun to read. I did find some grammar errors but there wasn’t enough to really annoy me. So overall this aspect was good and I really enjoyed reading a new author’s writing.
Quote of the Book:
“I kiss him until the rest of the world disappears…until there’s nothing left but the blaze of Grant’s touch and the stars above us.”
Goodreads Summary:
Kissing movie star Grant West may be every teenage girl’s dream, but when it happens to Sydney Kane, it’s nothing but a nightmare. Sure he’s cute, but having her face plastered all over celebrity gossip blogs is not something she’s interested in. Now cheerleaders are trying to befriend her, reporters won’t stop calling, and her mother keeps chasing her with a curling iron so she won’t be caught by the paparazzi with flat hair ever again.
Forgetting Grant is all Sydney wants and Colin, the guy she’s had a crush on since seventh grade, seems like a pretty good way to do it. Then Grant shows up at Sydney’s door begging for a second chance and the more she gets to know him, the more she isn’t sure she wants him to go away. But with Grant in the picture, Colin is backing off and she definitely doesn’t want that. Everything is a mess and Sydney doesn’t know what to do, who to choose, or how to make those pesky cheerleaders leave her alone. She only knows one thing for sure, being STARKISSED isn’t a dream come true at all.
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to YA and romance readers. This does have a lot of romance so if you’re not a fan then this book probably won’t be for you. But I overall enjoyed this book and thought it was a fast and easy read. It’s nice not to read a book all about the supernatural or a book with deep underlining issues. Overall I would definitely read another book by this author and look forward to seeing what else she has planned for her readers.
July 14, 2017
Typical YA book, just the way I like it, especially when I need to read some light and cute story.
June 2, 2016
To read this review and more come by my blog, Drugs Called Books
Starkissed is a fun, light, quick read. Great for when you just want something light to pass time with, something to warm your heart and make you smile.
I'm actually the most stupid person ever. I received this book months ago, back when I wasn't a blogger. The author opened a discussion on GR giving away copies, and I requested one; got it; saved it; forgot all about it.
I know - I'm horrible. I honestly think I should be hang for it, but at least I got to it in the end.
I liked this book a lot, as stated above. In fact, I finished it in one sitting. It was very easy to get lost in the pages of this book, and I looked forward to finding out how things would get resolved.
I liked Sydney's character; how she was so "normal" but was never swayed by apparent popularity and people disguising themselves as her friends only when it suited them. She was also rather unusual by her response both to being kissed by Grant and the spectacle it led to. Not a fame seeker, nor a girl who wealth and power appeals to, she likes her quiet and ordinary life.
I also liked how she was the average sister among five exceptional ones, a thing that promised she'll somehow turnout to be the most extraordinary of them all.
Sydney's five sisters first looked very bad; the kind of sisters Cinderella had, sort of. But by the ending of the story all turned out to be quite fabulous. It was one of those cases where you piss each other off, but in the end you still love one another greatly (*coughcough just like my brother and I *coughcough*)
We had two love interests in the story, as the summary well promises. While not being a fan of love triangles, I liked bother prospects and found this love triangle quite enjoyable, as it felt more like dealing with teenage crushes that being actually in love with both of them at the same time, which is what bothers me about love triangles in the first place.
The first option is Grant. He's a movie star, and I liked him and his surprisingly down-to-earth attitude. He did not seem like a movie star when he was with Sydney. He was also the one of the the two possibilities that actually chased after Sydney, declaring that he liked her.
Then there was Collin. He was fine until the moment [he kissed Sydney's sister, Eva.] That's when I started fully rooting for Grant. Collin wasn't bad; he was a nice and kind person, but also a person Sydney built an entire fantasy around--one he wasn't able to live up to, I think. In the end, for me, he wasn't enough of a man, [acting on his feelings only when Sydney was about to get snatched, not rejecting her sister's advances even though he liked Sydney].
I did feel as though the relationships in the book advanced rather quickly. While Grant/Sydney moments were very sweet in their nature... there weren't many of them.
The ending.
God, I loved that bit of Epilogue at the end! Her dad's hilarious, but aside for that it was really nice to know they were still going strong!
I definitely recommend the book.
Starkissed is a fun, light, quick read. Great for when you just want something light to pass time with, something to warm your heart and make you smile.
I'm actually the most stupid person ever. I received this book months ago, back when I wasn't a blogger. The author opened a discussion on GR giving away copies, and I requested one; got it; saved it; forgot all about it.
I know - I'm horrible. I honestly think I should be hang for it, but at least I got to it in the end.
I liked this book a lot, as stated above. In fact, I finished it in one sitting. It was very easy to get lost in the pages of this book, and I looked forward to finding out how things would get resolved.
I liked Sydney's character; how she was so "normal" but was never swayed by apparent popularity and people disguising themselves as her friends only when it suited them. She was also rather unusual by her response both to being kissed by Grant and the spectacle it led to. Not a fame seeker, nor a girl who wealth and power appeals to, she likes her quiet and ordinary life.
I also liked how she was the average sister among five exceptional ones, a thing that promised she'll somehow turnout to be the most extraordinary of them all.
Sydney's five sisters first looked very bad; the kind of sisters Cinderella had, sort of. But by the ending of the story all turned out to be quite fabulous. It was one of those cases where you piss each other off, but in the end you still love one another greatly (*coughcough just like my brother and I *coughcough*)
We had two love interests in the story, as the summary well promises. While not being a fan of love triangles, I liked bother prospects and found this love triangle quite enjoyable, as it felt more like dealing with teenage crushes that being actually in love with both of them at the same time, which is what bothers me about love triangles in the first place.
The first option is Grant. He's a movie star, and I liked him and his surprisingly down-to-earth attitude. He did not seem like a movie star when he was with Sydney. He was also the one of the the two possibilities that actually chased after Sydney, declaring that he liked her.
Then there was Collin. He was fine until the moment [he kissed Sydney's sister, Eva.] That's when I started fully rooting for Grant. Collin wasn't bad; he was a nice and kind person, but also a person Sydney built an entire fantasy around--one he wasn't able to live up to, I think. In the end, for me, he wasn't enough of a man, [acting on his feelings only when Sydney was about to get snatched, not rejecting her sister's advances even though he liked Sydney].
I did feel as though the relationships in the book advanced rather quickly. While Grant/Sydney moments were very sweet in their nature... there weren't many of them.
The ending.
God, I loved that bit of Epilogue at the end! Her dad's hilarious, but aside for that it was really nice to know they were still going strong!
I definitely recommend the book.
January 21, 2013
I loved it! This is definitely one the best YA romantic comedy novels I’ve read. It’s cute, funny, heartwarming, and romantic. It made me laugh and smile a lot times. I loved all the characters especially Sydney, Grant, Caroline, and the whole Kane family. It was so good, I couldn’t put it down.
I liked the main character, Sydney. She is a simple girl who you can easily relate to, a good daughter, a good friend, down-to-earth, humble, and really funny. If she was a real person, I would love to be her friend. I also found her to be a very inspiring character since she is just like every other teenager who is trying to discover and learn new things in life.
One of the things that I liked in this book is Sydney’s relationship with her family. In her family, Sydney has always been the odd man out especially when she’s being compared to her five other gorgeous sisters. She and her sisters have different personalities and because of this, they hardly get along. But even though they are so different from each other, they still manage to care for one another in their own unique ways. As for Sydney’s parents, she has a somewhat laid-back mother and a very strict father. For me, I think that the reason why her father is so strict to her and her sisters is because he is just being protective of them and he just doesn’t want them to get hurt. What I liked about her parents is that even though Sydney and her sisters gave them a lot of trouble, they are still supportive of them in their decisions in life.
As for the romance, I think that Sydney and Grant have an amazing chemistry together, and I found myself rooting for them ever since they met each other. Grant is such a sweet and charming guy and I, myself, couldn’t help falling in love with him. Sydney and Grant’s relationship developed in a good pace even though it took a long time for Sydney to figure things out on her love issues. There is a love triangle in the story and a guy named Colin, who is a couple of years older than Sydney (same as Grant) and has previously dated one of her sisters, is on the third side of the triangle. Colin is a nice guy and all, but what he did at the later part of the book kind of put me off.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It was a definite page turner and I loved every bit of it. There are lots of twists and surprises as well as scenes that would make you feel touched, swoon, and laugh. The ending was great and I loved it. Still, I couldn’t help but hope for a sequel since I loved the story and the characters so much, and I would also love to read more of Sydney and Grant. If you’re looking for a good YA RomCom then I recommend that you read this one. It’s definitely a must-read! =)
I liked the main character, Sydney. She is a simple girl who you can easily relate to, a good daughter, a good friend, down-to-earth, humble, and really funny. If she was a real person, I would love to be her friend. I also found her to be a very inspiring character since she is just like every other teenager who is trying to discover and learn new things in life.
One of the things that I liked in this book is Sydney’s relationship with her family. In her family, Sydney has always been the odd man out especially when she’s being compared to her five other gorgeous sisters. She and her sisters have different personalities and because of this, they hardly get along. But even though they are so different from each other, they still manage to care for one another in their own unique ways. As for Sydney’s parents, she has a somewhat laid-back mother and a very strict father. For me, I think that the reason why her father is so strict to her and her sisters is because he is just being protective of them and he just doesn’t want them to get hurt. What I liked about her parents is that even though Sydney and her sisters gave them a lot of trouble, they are still supportive of them in their decisions in life.
As for the romance, I think that Sydney and Grant have an amazing chemistry together, and I found myself rooting for them ever since they met each other. Grant is such a sweet and charming guy and I, myself, couldn’t help falling in love with him. Sydney and Grant’s relationship developed in a good pace even though it took a long time for Sydney to figure things out on her love issues. There is a love triangle in the story and a guy named Colin, who is a couple of years older than Sydney (same as Grant) and has previously dated one of her sisters, is on the third side of the triangle. Colin is a nice guy and all, but what he did at the later part of the book kind of put me off.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It was a definite page turner and I loved every bit of it. There are lots of twists and surprises as well as scenes that would make you feel touched, swoon, and laugh. The ending was great and I loved it. Still, I couldn’t help but hope for a sequel since I loved the story and the characters so much, and I would also love to read more of Sydney and Grant. If you’re looking for a good YA RomCom then I recommend that you read this one. It’s definitely a must-read! =)
July 3, 2016
3.5 stars
I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sydney Kane is the odd ball in her family. She has a flat brown hair, green eyes and a pale skin while her sisters are all blonde, has blue eyes and tanned skin. People often mistook her as their distant cousin or relative rather than their sister. While all her sisters are well known, Sydney is just a mere shadow—a nobody. But Sydney’s alright in being like that. She’s contented with her life and then the unexpected happen. Sydney’s life turned upside down because of a one kiss from a hot guy that she met in the restaurant. What she didn’t know is that the guy who kissed her is a famous celebrity and a renowned actor.
Starkissed started a bit off for me. I honestly got confused about the names of Sydney’s sisters. I sometimes got mixed it up. Maybe it’s the fact that all their names started in letter A or maybe it’s just me and my inability to remember names. (-__-“) And here’s the thing, I thought that Grant will just be a secondary character in this book and it’s Colin that Sydney will end up with. I mean, who wouldn’t be trick into thinking like that, if all Sydney could think at the first few chapters is Colin and let’s not forget that Grant reappeared (after their kiss) much longer so you really couldn’t blame me into thinking like that. Though I didn’t instantly like Starkissed, I later on started to like it. It made me laugh like a mad woman because the dialogues are just so freaking hilarious. Ms. Gabrielson surely knows how to make a reader laugh with her lines. ;)
My favorite character in this book will be Sydney’s dad. Guess you didn’t see that coming, did you? ;) Sydney’s dad has the funniest lines among the other characters (or maybe I’m just the only one who found it funny *shrugs*) but seriously, her dad is the coolest! Sure, her dad is strict but aren’t all dads like that? And her dad is also bipolar too. Hahaha. Yes, you read that right, her dad is bipolar. He goes from mad at this moment then happy at the next one. He seriously have a bad case of a moody person. I also find her dad eccentric (in a good kind of eccentric). He somehow reminds me of my dad.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fun and light read then Starkissed is the right book for you. You will found yourself laughing at the dialogues and at the way the characters act in this book. Ms. Gabrielson created a book that have all the ingredients of what the readers are looking for in a book (or maybe that’s just me). A humorous dialogues, quirky characters and a romance that will surely make you giggle or squeal in delight.
This review can also be found at Diary of a Book Maniac.
I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sydney Kane is the odd ball in her family. She has a flat brown hair, green eyes and a pale skin while her sisters are all blonde, has blue eyes and tanned skin. People often mistook her as their distant cousin or relative rather than their sister. While all her sisters are well known, Sydney is just a mere shadow—a nobody. But Sydney’s alright in being like that. She’s contented with her life and then the unexpected happen. Sydney’s life turned upside down because of a one kiss from a hot guy that she met in the restaurant. What she didn’t know is that the guy who kissed her is a famous celebrity and a renowned actor.
Starkissed started a bit off for me. I honestly got confused about the names of Sydney’s sisters. I sometimes got mixed it up. Maybe it’s the fact that all their names started in letter A or maybe it’s just me and my inability to remember names. (-__-“) And here’s the thing, I thought that Grant will just be a secondary character in this book and it’s Colin that Sydney will end up with. I mean, who wouldn’t be trick into thinking like that, if all Sydney could think at the first few chapters is Colin and let’s not forget that Grant reappeared (after their kiss) much longer so you really couldn’t blame me into thinking like that. Though I didn’t instantly like Starkissed, I later on started to like it. It made me laugh like a mad woman because the dialogues are just so freaking hilarious. Ms. Gabrielson surely knows how to make a reader laugh with her lines. ;)
My favorite character in this book will be Sydney’s dad. Guess you didn’t see that coming, did you? ;) Sydney’s dad has the funniest lines among the other characters (or maybe I’m just the only one who found it funny *shrugs*) but seriously, her dad is the coolest! Sure, her dad is strict but aren’t all dads like that? And her dad is also bipolar too. Hahaha. Yes, you read that right, her dad is bipolar. He goes from mad at this moment then happy at the next one. He seriously have a bad case of a moody person. I also find her dad eccentric (in a good kind of eccentric). He somehow reminds me of my dad.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fun and light read then Starkissed is the right book for you. You will found yourself laughing at the dialogues and at the way the characters act in this book. Ms. Gabrielson created a book that have all the ingredients of what the readers are looking for in a book (or maybe that’s just me). A humorous dialogues, quirky characters and a romance that will surely make you giggle or squeal in delight.
This review can also be found at Diary of a Book Maniac.
August 30, 2012
First and foremost, I'd like to thank the author - Brynna Gabrielson - for sending me this book.
Summary: Sydney Kane had never been a popular girl. She grew up as an oddball in a family of beautiful blonde sisters. However, all that changed when a picture of her kissing Hollywood most eligible bachelor, Grant West, was all over the internet. Suddenly, everyone noticed her and wanted to be her friend. This book is a story of how Sydney dealt with the unwanted attention, and figured out who she really loved - her long-time crush or the famous Grant West.
___________________________SPOILERS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Starkissed is an easy and light read - typical romance - young adult novel. It is also such a page-turner. I finished the book in less than a day. The plot is the ever-popular: girl-next-door-falling-for-movie-star. Despite of the cliche plot,the book still brings excitement and surprise. I particularly like the fact that Sydney never succumbed to the popularity and lost herself. Both Grant and Colin are sweet and cute. I adore Grant! Colin is nice as well but he lost some points at the end when he admitted to having feelings for Sydney but was afraid of her father's rules to do anything. The love triangle is nothing major. One thing that seems a bit lacking in my opinion is the chemistry and love development between Grant and Sydney. Most of the book talks about how people treat Sydney differently and how she dealt with it. And even when Sydney and Grant was on a date - the atmosphere was mainly awkward. All in all, it is a cute romantic read for those who are in need of one - perfect for the beach or a lazy day at home.
Summary: Sydney Kane had never been a popular girl. She grew up as an oddball in a family of beautiful blonde sisters. However, all that changed when a picture of her kissing Hollywood most eligible bachelor, Grant West, was all over the internet. Suddenly, everyone noticed her and wanted to be her friend. This book is a story of how Sydney dealt with the unwanted attention, and figured out who she really loved - her long-time crush or the famous Grant West.
___________________________SPOILERS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Starkissed is an easy and light read - typical romance - young adult novel. It is also such a page-turner. I finished the book in less than a day. The plot is the ever-popular: girl-next-door-falling-for-movie-star. Despite of the cliche plot,the book still brings excitement and surprise. I particularly like the fact that Sydney never succumbed to the popularity and lost herself. Both Grant and Colin are sweet and cute. I adore Grant! Colin is nice as well but he lost some points at the end when he admitted to having feelings for Sydney but was afraid of her father's rules to do anything. The love triangle is nothing major. One thing that seems a bit lacking in my opinion is the chemistry and love development between Grant and Sydney. Most of the book talks about how people treat Sydney differently and how she dealt with it. And even when Sydney and Grant was on a date - the atmosphere was mainly awkward. All in all, it is a cute romantic read for those who are in need of one - perfect for the beach or a lazy day at home.
June 1, 2015
Actually, I gave 3.5 to this book but as usual I was torn between 3 or 4 and as much as I want to give a 4 but I gave 3 instead. Well, I love the story and Sydney and Grant. But the problem is, Grant showed up only about 1/2 of the book or maybe less. I need more of him #sigh
This book is super cute. Sydney is just an ordinary girl from a little town but one day when she was in NY visiting her older sister (she has 5 sisters by the way and all of them are blonde, leaving Sydney a brunette all alone) and then by coincidence she met Grant, a hot and famous movie star and they were kissed. But apparently Sydney didn’t know who Grant is and just suddently their pictures kissing are everywhere. Sydney became an instant celebrity and everyone wants to be her friend. Even Colin, the guy she always dreaming of start to recognize her.
As crazy it was, Grant really want to date her but Sydney refused because she had felling for Colin. But after she saw Colin with her sister Ava dating (again) Sydney took the offer and start to dating Grant. After 3 dates sydney had to admit that Grant wasn’t a jerk as she thinks, the opposite actually, Grant is sweet and adorable and has nice abs^^.
But in an unfortunate moment, Grant found Sydney kissing with Colin (actually, Colin is kissing her and Sydney to shock to realize anything beside that finally Colin kissing him). And then everything screwed up and too late for Sydney to realized that the one she really want is Grant. Can she get him back?
I love when finally all her sisters are united to help Sydney to get Grant back. But as I said before, this book can be more cuter if there’s more Sydney and Grant moments, not just a few dates and lack of Grant appearance. But overall, I like it.
This book is super cute. Sydney is just an ordinary girl from a little town but one day when she was in NY visiting her older sister (she has 5 sisters by the way and all of them are blonde, leaving Sydney a brunette all alone) and then by coincidence she met Grant, a hot and famous movie star and they were kissed. But apparently Sydney didn’t know who Grant is and just suddently their pictures kissing are everywhere. Sydney became an instant celebrity and everyone wants to be her friend. Even Colin, the guy she always dreaming of start to recognize her.
As crazy it was, Grant really want to date her but Sydney refused because she had felling for Colin. But after she saw Colin with her sister Ava dating (again) Sydney took the offer and start to dating Grant. After 3 dates sydney had to admit that Grant wasn’t a jerk as she thinks, the opposite actually, Grant is sweet and adorable and has nice abs^^.
But in an unfortunate moment, Grant found Sydney kissing with Colin (actually, Colin is kissing her and Sydney to shock to realize anything beside that finally Colin kissing him). And then everything screwed up and too late for Sydney to realized that the one she really want is Grant. Can she get him back?
I love when finally all her sisters are united to help Sydney to get Grant back. But as I said before, this book can be more cuter if there’s more Sydney and Grant moments, not just a few dates and lack of Grant appearance. But overall, I like it.
November 4, 2012
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My personal opinion is that Brynna Gabrielson is one talented lady! Here's to a well-deserved five-star rating!
I chose to review this book because I wanted some light-hearted, teenage romance that would leave me smiling... I generally stick to the paranormal genre but something about the synopsis of this story made me wanna read it so I gave it a shot...
What I didn't realise was how Brynna Gabrielson would get me sucked into this story of Sydney Kane and her adventure of discovering the difference between real love and fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!
Gabrielson writes with such skill and humour... The way she told the story made me laugh out loud and left me smiling so widely when I wasn't being shocked by the little twists that came at very skillfully placed points in the story. Sydney Kane is believable. The emotions she struggles with and the decisions she has to make were too...
While the main theme of the story is Sydney and Grant's relationship, I found the relationship between Sydney and her sisters to be one of my favourites in the book... the sibling dynamic made me burst out laughing; roll my eyes and say "OMG" a lot! Very, very entertaining.
I fell in love with this story! I definitely encourage anyone in need of a good laugh; a reminder of being young and in love or just wanting to be entertained to get this book!
My personal opinion is that Brynna Gabrielson is one talented lady! Here's to a well-deserved five-star rating!
I chose to review this book because I wanted some light-hearted, teenage romance that would leave me smiling... I generally stick to the paranormal genre but something about the synopsis of this story made me wanna read it so I gave it a shot...
What I didn't realise was how Brynna Gabrielson would get me sucked into this story of Sydney Kane and her adventure of discovering the difference between real love and fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!
Gabrielson writes with such skill and humour... The way she told the story made me laugh out loud and left me smiling so widely when I wasn't being shocked by the little twists that came at very skillfully placed points in the story. Sydney Kane is believable. The emotions she struggles with and the decisions she has to make were too...
While the main theme of the story is Sydney and Grant's relationship, I found the relationship between Sydney and her sisters to be one of my favourites in the book... the sibling dynamic made me burst out laughing; roll my eyes and say "OMG" a lot! Very, very entertaining.
I fell in love with this story! I definitely encourage anyone in need of a good laugh; a reminder of being young and in love or just wanting to be entertained to get this book!
July 11, 2014
This story although it did have some good parts I thought it was very bland. The only characters that had any real spice to them was Sydney and that's just a little. All the characters where bland and it all happened so fast. I mean, they didn't even let her relationship with Collin to grow so it could be a proper love triangle. And I don't understand how she fell in love with him anyway.
Then her best friend liking Liam, they didn't show her getting anywhere with Paul. And there were some plot holes so big I nearly fell into them. All in all it was interesting and although it's a giant cliche It felt like the type of book anyone could read.
It's the type of book you can read and semi enjoy but then you finish reading it and then never think about it again, there was nothing in it to make it stand out.
When I started reading it and Collin came up I was like 'OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU!' But by the end I was like
And then MICHELLE WAS SO ANNOYING I WAS LIKE
But it was okay.
Then her best friend liking Liam, they didn't show her getting anywhere with Paul. And there were some plot holes so big I nearly fell into them. All in all it was interesting and although it's a giant cliche It felt like the type of book anyone could read.
It's the type of book you can read and semi enjoy but then you finish reading it and then never think about it again, there was nothing in it to make it stand out.
When I started reading it and Collin came up I was like 'OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU!' But by the end I was like
And then MICHELLE WAS SO ANNOYING I WAS LIKE
But it was okay.
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