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All the Stars Align
All the Stars Align is the magical love story that is Taylor Swift’s Enchanted meets Cyrano, from the author of Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal.
All the women in Piper’s family know their true love at first sight, complete with butterflies, heart eyes, and a gut instinct. The kind of fated love that lasts forever. Piper grew up with her ancestors' epic love stories repeated like fairy tales, and yearns for the day she’ll start her own. Already singled out in her family due to her physical disability, Piper collects a second strike against her when her parents announce their divorce, which convinces her family that she’s doomed.
When she finally finds her true love at a party, she’s more determined than ever to attain her love story and earn a spot in her family. But after completely botching their first meeting, she realizes that she’ll need help from her best friend Leo, who is sort of a love expert. The catch—he and Piper haven’t talked in six months, since he needed a “break” from their friendship.
To win over the love of her life and a place in her family, Piper must convince Leo to teach her his ways. And it’s all going as planned…until Leo confesses his own love for Piper. Now, she must decide which fate to follow.
All the women in Piper’s family know their true love at first sight, complete with butterflies, heart eyes, and a gut instinct. The kind of fated love that lasts forever. Piper grew up with her ancestors' epic love stories repeated like fairy tales, and yearns for the day she’ll start her own. Already singled out in her family due to her physical disability, Piper collects a second strike against her when her parents announce their divorce, which convinces her family that she’s doomed.
When she finally finds her true love at a party, she’s more determined than ever to attain her love story and earn a spot in her family. But after completely botching their first meeting, she realizes that she’ll need help from her best friend Leo, who is sort of a love expert. The catch—he and Piper haven’t talked in six months, since he needed a “break” from their friendship.
To win over the love of her life and a place in her family, Piper must convince Leo to teach her his ways. And it’s all going as planned…until Leo confesses his own love for Piper. Now, she must decide which fate to follow.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
29 people are currently reading
16785 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
October 18, 2024
This sweet and entertaining young adult romance, with a touch of Taylor Swift’s poetic magic and a gender-reversed Cyrano de Bergerac twist, delves into family dynamics and disability representation while presenting us with engaging characters and a delightful read.
Young Piper feels pressured by her happily married aunts to find her "happily ever after," especially after her parents announce their divorce, creating a ripple effect throughout the family. Her aunts are hopeful that Piper can reconcile her parents and, in the meantime, try on wedding rings at their jewelry store. During a party, she meets someone who could be the love of her life, but the encounter amplifies her insecurities about her disability and social awkwardness. To get a second chance at impressing him, she seeks the help of her best friend Leo, the "love expert," despite not speaking for six months. Determined to break the family’s supposed curse and fulfill her aunts' expectations, she convinces Leo to guide her in winning over her crush.
However, as they spend more time together, Leo confesses his own feelings, and Piper realizes she might feel the same way. Now, she faces a dilemma: pursue her original crush or follow her heart toward Leo, risking a wrong choice that could cost her true happiness.
Personally, I was rooting for Leo and Piper (or "Liper") from the start, rather than Forest, the third side of the love triangle. This is a charming, easy-to-read romance that blends the magic of a Swiftie universe with a friends-to-lovers trope. I highly recommend it to fans of the genre or anyone seeking a heartwarming and enchanting story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing a digital review copy of this heartfelt romance in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Five stars: a blood-freezing, rage-inducing, heart-pounding, tear-jerking wake-up call to all the injustices, unacceptable acts, and unfair wrongdoings of the system!
As soon as I closed the book, I sat there for at least two hours, paralyzed—lost, confused, agitated, speechless, and overwhelmed with a deep, aching sorrow for the characters and all the suffering they endured. The most haunting part? This wasn’t fiction. It was rooted in true stories.
When you’re cocooned in your daily routine, surrounded by the comforts of your own choices, it’s easy to forget what happens beyond that bubble. This book forces you to remember—with a harsh, ugly slap across the face. It brings to light the most outrageous and shameful era in American history.
The story begins with Elwood, a bright and hard-working young man who loves comic books and is about to start college. But everything changes when he’s falsely accused of stealing a car and sent to Nickel Academy—a segregated juvenile facility rife with racism, torture, abuse, and brutality.
Elwood, despite his naivety, believes he can fight against the corruption and injustice in the school. Then he meets Turner, a cynical and pragmatic survivor who becomes his unlikely partner in navigating the academy’s horrors.
The book seamlessly blends elements reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, Fruitvale Station, Do the Right Thing, When They See Us, and The Shawshank Redemption, crafting a powerful narrative on systemic injustice.
If you have the courage to confront the raw, brutal realities the characters face, and the stomach to absorb the unflinching details, this book serves as a stark reminder of the darkest sides of human history. It urges you to raise your voice, to no longer turn a blind eye.
The ending delivers a gut-wrenching twist that knocks the wind out of you.
I want to close this review with the powerful words of Martin Luther King Jr.:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Young Piper feels pressured by her happily married aunts to find her "happily ever after," especially after her parents announce their divorce, creating a ripple effect throughout the family. Her aunts are hopeful that Piper can reconcile her parents and, in the meantime, try on wedding rings at their jewelry store. During a party, she meets someone who could be the love of her life, but the encounter amplifies her insecurities about her disability and social awkwardness. To get a second chance at impressing him, she seeks the help of her best friend Leo, the "love expert," despite not speaking for six months. Determined to break the family’s supposed curse and fulfill her aunts' expectations, she convinces Leo to guide her in winning over her crush.
However, as they spend more time together, Leo confesses his own feelings, and Piper realizes she might feel the same way. Now, she faces a dilemma: pursue her original crush or follow her heart toward Leo, risking a wrong choice that could cost her true happiness.
Personally, I was rooting for Leo and Piper (or "Liper") from the start, rather than Forest, the third side of the love triangle. This is a charming, easy-to-read romance that blends the magic of a Swiftie universe with a friends-to-lovers trope. I highly recommend it to fans of the genre or anyone seeking a heartwarming and enchanting story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing a digital review copy of this heartfelt romance in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Five stars: a blood-freezing, rage-inducing, heart-pounding, tear-jerking wake-up call to all the injustices, unacceptable acts, and unfair wrongdoings of the system!
As soon as I closed the book, I sat there for at least two hours, paralyzed—lost, confused, agitated, speechless, and overwhelmed with a deep, aching sorrow for the characters and all the suffering they endured. The most haunting part? This wasn’t fiction. It was rooted in true stories.
When you’re cocooned in your daily routine, surrounded by the comforts of your own choices, it’s easy to forget what happens beyond that bubble. This book forces you to remember—with a harsh, ugly slap across the face. It brings to light the most outrageous and shameful era in American history.
The story begins with Elwood, a bright and hard-working young man who loves comic books and is about to start college. But everything changes when he’s falsely accused of stealing a car and sent to Nickel Academy—a segregated juvenile facility rife with racism, torture, abuse, and brutality.
Elwood, despite his naivety, believes he can fight against the corruption and injustice in the school. Then he meets Turner, a cynical and pragmatic survivor who becomes his unlikely partner in navigating the academy’s horrors.
The book seamlessly blends elements reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, Fruitvale Station, Do the Right Thing, When They See Us, and The Shawshank Redemption, crafting a powerful narrative on systemic injustice.
If you have the courage to confront the raw, brutal realities the characters face, and the stomach to absorb the unflinching details, this book serves as a stark reminder of the darkest sides of human history. It urges you to raise your voice, to no longer turn a blind eye.
The ending delivers a gut-wrenching twist that knocks the wind out of you.
I want to close this review with the powerful words of Martin Luther King Jr.:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
June 30, 2025
✰ 2 stars ✰
There's believing in true love, true love's first kiss, and love at first sight... and then... there's this. 😮💨 I don't even know where to start as to how Piper was so blinded by Fate that it became almost ridiculously comical how obsessed she was into believing that a tug at the heart would be her destined soulmate.
I started to get the impression that this really is a satirical depiction of Sleeping Beauty, with Piper's three aunts as the fairy godmothers goading her to find her Prince Charming, because in their little shop of horrors. Sorry, I mean, delights. 🙃 It is their destiny to promise everyone a lifelong commitment of love and happiness. I want my own grand love story. Throw in Piper living up to her namesake of being the Pied Piper to two hunk a hunks competing for affection, despite determined to follow in what is preordained, then really it is nothing short of a twisted fairy-tale. 🪄
“Is it so wrong to want true love?” I ask.
“Maybe I like the element of surprise. The idea that love can be anywhere—around any corner. That one love is not better than the others, just because it is short.”
Look, it's a no-brainer which direction this story was going. It's not a surprise who Piper ended up with, considering how much of the story is centered on reminding us of the many many memories she's shared with Mr. Perfection and that he makes her feel special, even when he's always on the prowl, and that he and their other best friend are sharing those weird side glances that are clearly indicating that he's confessed his desire for her but destiny isn't ready for it, for how centered Piper is in following the Hadley curse. Sorry, I meant, spell. 🙄
But she was like a walking-talking red flag, which is a rarity for me to see in female characters. How you ask? Well, for starters, if you have a feeling that you might have been harboring a crush on your best friend forever since day one, maybe asking him to be your test dummy to try out your nonexistent kissing skills really isn't the right way to go? 🙅🏻♀️🛑
Not to mention, that all she ever talked about was Fate and finding her true love and fixing her parents' marriage, which mind you, was sad that even her own parents couldn't make her understand that you can't dictate love and that other factors play a part in falling out of love. It's like she had no personality whatsoever beyond the realm of finding love at eighteen and if not, she would be lost without it. 😒
“You do not have to fall in line just because Fate tells you something.”
It does fit the description of a vapid princess, doesn't it? And yes, I know that it probably is intentional to make her snap out of it, and that she's a making of her own upbringing -true love is the only destiny she will accept for me - cursed by a family tradition that she feels compelled to follow in the footsteps of; but it was borderline too excessive at times. 😵💫 Even her unhealthy desire to make Forest the one for her was a challenge enough.
Honestly, I felt bad for Forest. He's like the unwitting participant in a game of Fate that he really shouldn't have to be burdened with, because we never really get to see if he felt the same spark that she did upon their ill-fated meeting. 🥺 It made it difficult for me to even enjoy some of the cute moments between Leo and Piper, because even though she was knowingly using him to help her win over her supposed true love, it just felt wrong.
And if I had a nickel for every time I was told that Leo had golden-brown hair, I would have 35 cents. Now, that's seven times too many to be told the color of his hair! 😩
I don't know of those who live with scoliosis, but apparently, it was a major part of Piper's life and her inability to be more social, because of it; however, I did not feel like it really played a part of the narrative, until she kept bringing it up 🧐. So, I can't see really that it is a positive depiction of finding love for those who struggle with it, for how rarely it affected her currently during her senior year.
“A touch of Fate and all the stars align…”
I know it's a Young Adult, so I'm not knocking down teens from feeling the thrum of discovering love. It goes against the romantic in me. Plus, I am a hardcore sucker for childhood friends to lovers, so this could have been perfect. 😢 But, I had issues with the writing, Piper as a character with —this mess of complicated emotions, the lackluster attempt to make Leo more than just the obvious choice, a third wheel of a best friend who was the voice of reason, and her insane fixation with fulfilling her Love Blessing that was beyond problematic; although it was cathartic to see her see the harm in it, so maybe there is a life lesson to it. 🙆🏻♀️
I just found myself questioning why I seem to be having such a bad run with books, which I select, thinking they will be worth my time, or at least give them a chance. Maybe I need a Blessing of finding GoodReads! 😅
“I guess I didn’t pay close enough attention to the tales—Fate only promises to let us see our true love. The happy ending is up to us.”
There's believing in true love, true love's first kiss, and love at first sight... and then... there's this. 😮💨 I don't even know where to start as to how Piper was so blinded by Fate that it became almost ridiculously comical how obsessed she was into believing that a tug at the heart would be her destined soulmate.
I started to get the impression that this really is a satirical depiction of Sleeping Beauty, with Piper's three aunts as the fairy godmothers goading her to find her Prince Charming, because in their little shop of horrors. Sorry, I mean, delights. 🙃 It is their destiny to promise everyone a lifelong commitment of love and happiness. I want my own grand love story. Throw in Piper living up to her namesake of being the Pied Piper to two hunk a hunks competing for affection, despite determined to follow in what is preordained, then really it is nothing short of a twisted fairy-tale. 🪄
“Is it so wrong to want true love?” I ask.
“Maybe I like the element of surprise. The idea that love can be anywhere—around any corner. That one love is not better than the others, just because it is short.”
Look, it's a no-brainer which direction this story was going. It's not a surprise who Piper ended up with, considering how much of the story is centered on reminding us of the many many memories she's shared with Mr. Perfection and that he makes her feel special, even when he's always on the prowl, and that he and their other best friend are sharing those weird side glances that are clearly indicating that he's confessed his desire for her but destiny isn't ready for it, for how centered Piper is in following the Hadley curse. Sorry, I meant, spell. 🙄
But she was like a walking-talking red flag, which is a rarity for me to see in female characters. How you ask? Well, for starters, if you have a feeling that you might have been harboring a crush on your best friend forever since day one, maybe asking him to be your test dummy to try out your nonexistent kissing skills really isn't the right way to go? 🙅🏻♀️🛑
Not to mention, that all she ever talked about was Fate and finding her true love and fixing her parents' marriage, which mind you, was sad that even her own parents couldn't make her understand that you can't dictate love and that other factors play a part in falling out of love. It's like she had no personality whatsoever beyond the realm of finding love at eighteen and if not, she would be lost without it. 😒
“You do not have to fall in line just because Fate tells you something.”
It does fit the description of a vapid princess, doesn't it? And yes, I know that it probably is intentional to make her snap out of it, and that she's a making of her own upbringing -true love is the only destiny she will accept for me - cursed by a family tradition that she feels compelled to follow in the footsteps of; but it was borderline too excessive at times. 😵💫 Even her unhealthy desire to make Forest the one for her was a challenge enough.
Honestly, I felt bad for Forest. He's like the unwitting participant in a game of Fate that he really shouldn't have to be burdened with, because we never really get to see if he felt the same spark that she did upon their ill-fated meeting. 🥺 It made it difficult for me to even enjoy some of the cute moments between Leo and Piper, because even though she was knowingly using him to help her win over her supposed true love, it just felt wrong.
And if I had a nickel for every time I was told that Leo had golden-brown hair, I would have 35 cents. Now, that's seven times too many to be told the color of his hair! 😩
I don't know of those who live with scoliosis, but apparently, it was a major part of Piper's life and her inability to be more social, because of it; however, I did not feel like it really played a part of the narrative, until she kept bringing it up 🧐. So, I can't see really that it is a positive depiction of finding love for those who struggle with it, for how rarely it affected her currently during her senior year.
“A touch of Fate and all the stars align…”
I know it's a Young Adult, so I'm not knocking down teens from feeling the thrum of discovering love. It goes against the romantic in me. Plus, I am a hardcore sucker for childhood friends to lovers, so this could have been perfect. 😢 But, I had issues with the writing, Piper as a character with —this mess of complicated emotions, the lackluster attempt to make Leo more than just the obvious choice, a third wheel of a best friend who was the voice of reason, and her insane fixation with fulfilling her Love Blessing that was beyond problematic; although it was cathartic to see her see the harm in it, so maybe there is a life lesson to it. 🙆🏻♀️
I just found myself questioning why I seem to be having such a bad run with books, which I select, thinking they will be worth my time, or at least give them a chance. Maybe I need a Blessing of finding GoodReads! 😅
April 1, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
In Piper's family, it is said that fate will help you find your one true love. Piper has heard this all of her life and believes it in so fervently that she cannot accept her parents' recent divorce or that the boy she has known all her life might be tired of feeling like Piper doesn't even see him as anything more than a friend.
In a novel all about fate and love, Piper must also search to discover that sometimes what we really desire is more important than trying to please others.
It was cute and cozy and had a very nice story to it that kept me reading the pages. Also, I was entranced by the novel being inspired by Taylor Swift's Enchanted . I could certainly see this novel becoming a movie. It had a nice message about it.
#AlltheStarsAlign #NetGalley.
Expected Publication 01/04/25
Goodreads review. 31/03/25
In Piper's family, it is said that fate will help you find your one true love. Piper has heard this all of her life and believes it in so fervently that she cannot accept her parents' recent divorce or that the boy she has known all her life might be tired of feeling like Piper doesn't even see him as anything more than a friend.
In a novel all about fate and love, Piper must also search to discover that sometimes what we really desire is more important than trying to please others.
It was cute and cozy and had a very nice story to it that kept me reading the pages. Also, I was entranced by the novel being inspired by Taylor Swift's Enchanted . I could certainly see this novel becoming a movie. It had a nice message about it.
#AlltheStarsAlign #NetGalley.
Expected Publication 01/04/25
Goodreads review. 31/03/25
July 22, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I wasn't aware how YA this book actually was (and that's on me!), but I will start off by saying I'm not the target demographic for this novel. I would say this would work best for younger readers (specifically, tweens) as it explores those awkward years where you're no longer a child but also don't have all the agency you wish you did, all the while you're actively trying to understand yourself and relationships. Even though the characters were 17-18, I fear this might read too young for high school seniors already.
I loved the disability representation. It's so important that young girls see themselves in romance books as the heroine, so the author's decision of making her heroine physically disabled will hopefully bring joy to readers who identify with Piper. And not only does she have one love interest, but TWO! Piper was a great protagonist with a very empowering arc, where she decides life for herself instead of taking the route everyone else wants for her.
Even though there was a love triangle, the main male protagonist was clear from the start and the friends-to-lovers dynamic made this romance sweet and better than if it had been fated! I think the tension was there but I'm not too into young romances so it's hard to evaluate (again, not the target audience!).
Overall, I would recommend this to readers between the ages of 10 and 15, as I think the messaging is good and could be very relatable.
I wasn't aware how YA this book actually was (and that's on me!), but I will start off by saying I'm not the target demographic for this novel. I would say this would work best for younger readers (specifically, tweens) as it explores those awkward years where you're no longer a child but also don't have all the agency you wish you did, all the while you're actively trying to understand yourself and relationships. Even though the characters were 17-18, I fear this might read too young for high school seniors already.
I loved the disability representation. It's so important that young girls see themselves in romance books as the heroine, so the author's decision of making her heroine physically disabled will hopefully bring joy to readers who identify with Piper. And not only does she have one love interest, but TWO! Piper was a great protagonist with a very empowering arc, where she decides life for herself instead of taking the route everyone else wants for her.
Even though there was a love triangle, the main male protagonist was clear from the start and the friends-to-lovers dynamic made this romance sweet and better than if it had been fated! I think the tension was there but I'm not too into young romances so it's hard to evaluate (again, not the target audience!).
Overall, I would recommend this to readers between the ages of 10 and 15, as I think the messaging is good and could be very relatable.
March 23, 2025
I thought this had an interesting premise, but I found the execution lackluster.
At about 25% I realized I knew exactly how the story was going to go. And unfortunately I was correct. There was one obvious choice, and I’ve read enough YA that I saw exactly how we’d get there, which was disappointing.
I also found it to be quite repetitive, with the pacing not working for me. The FMC’s inner monologue was basically the same thing throughout the entire book, and I found myself getting bored.
I did enjoy the disability rep and thought that was done well. And there were cute moments.
Maybe very young teenagers would enjoy this more, but more experienced readers will probably find this disappointing.
Thanks to the publisher for the copy.
At about 25% I realized I knew exactly how the story was going to go. And unfortunately I was correct. There was one obvious choice, and I’ve read enough YA that I saw exactly how we’d get there, which was disappointing.
I also found it to be quite repetitive, with the pacing not working for me. The FMC’s inner monologue was basically the same thing throughout the entire book, and I found myself getting bored.
I did enjoy the disability rep and thought that was done well. And there were cute moments.
Maybe very young teenagers would enjoy this more, but more experienced readers will probably find this disappointing.
Thanks to the publisher for the copy.
January 4, 2025
2.5
Swear id puke if I heard BLESSING just one more time
Swear id puke if I heard BLESSING just one more time
April 1, 2025
I thought the parts of this book that grappled with meeting family expectations and navigating life with a disability were great! Piper’s parents’ dynamic felt very real and complicated and was a highlight of the book for me. The romance part was more saccharine and lackluster; I wish Piper had been more confident to voice her own opinions, and I thought the word “love” was tossed around really casually given the depths of her dating relationship.
I received an ARC of this book at ECCC—my thanks to the publishers!
I received an ARC of this book at ECCC—my thanks to the publishers!
April 22, 2025
meep I did not love this book. I did like the disability representation and how that was tied into the them of wanting to fit in, but I did not like anything else
I found Piper very unpleasant. She plays with two guys hearts the entire book (sometimes unknowingly). I love ideas of Fate but this wasn't it for me. Does pose a philosophical question about fate vs choice but yeah no
I found Piper very unpleasant. She plays with two guys hearts the entire book (sometimes unknowingly). I love ideas of Fate but this wasn't it for me. Does pose a philosophical question about fate vs choice but yeah no
August 2, 2025
All the women in Piper's family have had a particular life-changing experience: knowing their true love at first sight, then marrying and living with them for the rest of their lives. Piper is eager to have her own. She's grown up with story after story of that particular moment, and she wants to become a member of this club so badly.
But it hasn't happened for her yet, and she feels under pressure and on the outside of her family, which is only reinforced by her physical disabilities, and because her mother and father are now divorced, in spite of her mother's true love being Piper's dad.
Also, Piper's best friend Leo called a break to their friendship six months ago, and she's feeling alone. Her parents seems to be moving on with their individual lives, and she can't understand what happened, and wants desperately to get them back together.
Then she meets a boy, Forest, and she feels it: the butterflies, and a deep certainty that the boy in front of her is her true love. And then, Leo renews their friendship, but something feels a little different with him. She's just so happy that Leo is back, and can't seem to see him as anything more than her friend, despite her other best friend, and others, trying to get her to open her eyes to who is right there beside her.
Piper is just so happy that she's had her true love moment with Forest, and that her aunts seems to have finally accepted her. But she's afraid of not being able to keep Forest, so she asks Leo to help her communicate with her new love, which he does, despite it obviously being something he is reluctant to do.
The story is entertaining, if a little unbelievable. It reads fast, and Piper is sweet, but a little too taken in by her aunts and their stories and insistence that there is only one way to be a part of the family, and that fate is the only thing that matters.
Piper learns a lot about herself, her parents, her wider family, and about what is really important to her to be happy with herself and with those she loves over the course of this sweet, without being saccharine, story.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
But it hasn't happened for her yet, and she feels under pressure and on the outside of her family, which is only reinforced by her physical disabilities, and because her mother and father are now divorced, in spite of her mother's true love being Piper's dad.
Also, Piper's best friend Leo called a break to their friendship six months ago, and she's feeling alone. Her parents seems to be moving on with their individual lives, and she can't understand what happened, and wants desperately to get them back together.
Then she meets a boy, Forest, and she feels it: the butterflies, and a deep certainty that the boy in front of her is her true love. And then, Leo renews their friendship, but something feels a little different with him. She's just so happy that Leo is back, and can't seem to see him as anything more than her friend, despite her other best friend, and others, trying to get her to open her eyes to who is right there beside her.
Piper is just so happy that she's had her true love moment with Forest, and that her aunts seems to have finally accepted her. But she's afraid of not being able to keep Forest, so she asks Leo to help her communicate with her new love, which he does, despite it obviously being something he is reluctant to do.
The story is entertaining, if a little unbelievable. It reads fast, and Piper is sweet, but a little too taken in by her aunts and their stories and insistence that there is only one way to be a part of the family, and that fate is the only thing that matters.
Piper learns a lot about herself, her parents, her wider family, and about what is really important to her to be happy with herself and with those she loves over the course of this sweet, without being saccharine, story.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
April 1, 2025
Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books/ Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I truly do appreciate it.
All the women in Piper's family know who their true love will be at first sight, complete with all the butterflies, heart eyes and the gut instinct. The kind of love lasts forever. Piper grew up with her families epic love stories, like something out of a fairytale and she's longing for the day she will start her love story. However she already feels singled out of her family because of her physical disability. She collects another strike against her, when her parents announce that they are getting divorced. Which convinces her that she is doomed. When she finally sees her true love at a party, she is determined to get her love story and earn a spot in her family. After completely messing up their very first meeting, she realizes that she needs help from her best friend Leo, who is kind of a love expert since he's dated so many girls. Except Leo and Piper haven't talked in six months, since he decided he needed a "break" from their friendship.
The cover of this book is stunning and I love it, but the inside of the book not so much. She was a little too obsessed with fate in my opinion. I swear if I hear one more thing about the blessing or fate I think I might scream. If I counted how many times this girl said the word fate it would probably be 300 times oh my goodness. This girl was obsessed with finding her true love, but I just couldn't handle hearing about fate every other sentence.
I do think other people might enjoy this book, especially the young girls like 12-14 maybe, this book just didn't work for me. I also did not know that the kids int his book were 18 I thought they were 14, because of the way the acted towards each other and together. The aunts also acted like children, I know you family has this blessing but not everyone's life needs to revolve around that it's great if yours does and your secure but the aunts need to see that not everyone member of their family is going to be like them. I just felt like there were a lot of things that I didn't like about the book.
I don't think this book was for me, but hopefully their are a lot of you out their that enjoy this book. Happy Reading!!!
All the women in Piper's family know who their true love will be at first sight, complete with all the butterflies, heart eyes and the gut instinct. The kind of love lasts forever. Piper grew up with her families epic love stories, like something out of a fairytale and she's longing for the day she will start her love story. However she already feels singled out of her family because of her physical disability. She collects another strike against her, when her parents announce that they are getting divorced. Which convinces her that she is doomed. When she finally sees her true love at a party, she is determined to get her love story and earn a spot in her family. After completely messing up their very first meeting, she realizes that she needs help from her best friend Leo, who is kind of a love expert since he's dated so many girls. Except Leo and Piper haven't talked in six months, since he decided he needed a "break" from their friendship.
The cover of this book is stunning and I love it, but the inside of the book not so much. She was a little too obsessed with fate in my opinion. I swear if I hear one more thing about the blessing or fate I think I might scream. If I counted how many times this girl said the word fate it would probably be 300 times oh my goodness. This girl was obsessed with finding her true love, but I just couldn't handle hearing about fate every other sentence.
I do think other people might enjoy this book, especially the young girls like 12-14 maybe, this book just didn't work for me. I also did not know that the kids int his book were 18 I thought they were 14, because of the way the acted towards each other and together. The aunts also acted like children, I know you family has this blessing but not everyone's life needs to revolve around that it's great if yours does and your secure but the aunts need to see that not everyone member of their family is going to be like them. I just felt like there were a lot of things that I didn't like about the book.
I don't think this book was for me, but hopefully their are a lot of you out their that enjoy this book. Happy Reading!!!
December 26, 2024
I won this arc book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Publisher, and Gretchen Schreiber for a copy.
I really wished I could finish this book given the premise, the inspiration, and the representation, however, I could not. Therefore, this was a DNF for me.
Personally, I was not a fan of the FMC with how she makes fun of herself or jokes about her situation. There might be character development for her later, but I could not sit through it nor cared enough to sit it through for her.
The teen angst was unbearable for me given their circumstances, and I am aware it is a YA, but it was difficult to look past or ignored.
I was quite put off by how often the word 'family' came up in the first 20 pages as well.
I really wished I could finish this book given the premise, the inspiration, and the representation, however, I could not. Therefore, this was a DNF for me.
Personally, I was not a fan of the FMC with how she makes fun of herself or jokes about her situation. There might be character development for her later, but I could not sit through it nor cared enough to sit it through for her.
The teen angst was unbearable for me given their circumstances, and I am aware it is a YA, but it was difficult to look past or ignored.
I was quite put off by how often the word 'family' came up in the first 20 pages as well.
January 3, 2025
I would’ve ate this book up ten years ago. Now I’m just really tired of predictable love triangles where one of them obviously stands no chance. So the romance wasn’t great for me but I did like aspects with her best friend and her parents divorce/family issues. Also, disability rep !
February 28, 2025
The aunts made this book really unenjoyable for me. I get that the whole family dynamic was part of the story, I’m just not a fan.
**Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group via NetGalley for inviting me to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
**Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group via NetGalley for inviting me to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Want to read
August 6, 2024"All the Stars Align is the magical love story that is Taylor Swift’s Enchanted meets Cyrano"
i'm not in love with this cover, tbh
i'm not in love with this cover, tbh
March 31, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️
For anyone who loves the idea of the dating coach from Bridgerton season 3, but was then disappointed when it lasted for only a hot minute….well buckle up, cause this is the book for you.
When I say I love YA romcoms, this is what I mean. The drama. The yearning. Exceptional. It’s friends to lovers but also dating coach. So that means extra cute moments that will make your heart flutter while simultaneously crushing you as one yearns harder.
I also loved the disability rep. It’s there, it affects her, but it’s not the whole story, cause their whole life is made up of so much more than their disability. Like finding love and dealing with family traditions. I really liked the conflict and conversation had with the latter.
Overall, this was such a cute story that I devoured in one day. I really enjoyed this author’s first book, now I think they’re an insta-buy for me. So if you need a cute romcom that does have great message while sending your emotions on a rollercoaster, I recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
For anyone who doesn’t care about spoilers, here were my thoughts while reading:
All the stars
Disable rep. Good. Hits topics like wanting to fit in without feeling like people are trying too hard
Poor Leo. Poor sweet baby. I just want to give him a hug
Friends to lovers
You know, I know the aunts mean well, but the more time we spend with them the more I want to run like pipers mom
I love Leo trying to “teach” her even though it’s killing me too
“Fuck perfect.” Absolutely correct. Love isn’t perfect or simple. It’s messy and hard but the right kind of challenging
Eden Forest who barely knows her notes her awkwardness & lack of opinions around her aunts
Any time there’s a little monument between Piper & Leo my heart flutters while simultaneously I’m groaning how much this must be killing Leo
Every time Leo says or does something another piece of my heart breaks
Love the theme about family & boundaries & loyalty etc
If you were made the dating coach thing didn’t last long in bridgerton. You’ll love this
Leo!!!! You’re the worst & I love you for it 😂
For anyone who loves the idea of the dating coach from Bridgerton season 3, but was then disappointed when it lasted for only a hot minute….well buckle up, cause this is the book for you.
When I say I love YA romcoms, this is what I mean. The drama. The yearning. Exceptional. It’s friends to lovers but also dating coach. So that means extra cute moments that will make your heart flutter while simultaneously crushing you as one yearns harder.
I also loved the disability rep. It’s there, it affects her, but it’s not the whole story, cause their whole life is made up of so much more than their disability. Like finding love and dealing with family traditions. I really liked the conflict and conversation had with the latter.
Overall, this was such a cute story that I devoured in one day. I really enjoyed this author’s first book, now I think they’re an insta-buy for me. So if you need a cute romcom that does have great message while sending your emotions on a rollercoaster, I recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
For anyone who doesn’t care about spoilers, here were my thoughts while reading:
All the stars
Disable rep. Good. Hits topics like wanting to fit in without feeling like people are trying too hard
Poor Leo. Poor sweet baby. I just want to give him a hug
Friends to lovers
You know, I know the aunts mean well, but the more time we spend with them the more I want to run like pipers mom
I love Leo trying to “teach” her even though it’s killing me too
“Fuck perfect.” Absolutely correct. Love isn’t perfect or simple. It’s messy and hard but the right kind of challenging
Eden Forest who barely knows her notes her awkwardness & lack of opinions around her aunts
Any time there’s a little monument between Piper & Leo my heart flutters while simultaneously I’m groaning how much this must be killing Leo
Every time Leo says or does something another piece of my heart breaks
Love the theme about family & boundaries & loyalty etc
If you were made the dating coach thing didn’t last long in bridgerton. You’ll love this
Leo!!!! You’re the worst & I love you for it 😂
May 21, 2025
2.5 stars
A somewhat cute, but rather predictable YA romance. The story focuses on Fate and believing it can do everything for you and knows what's best. It also focuses on family and how they are the most important thing and know Fate will fix it all. Supposedly.
The main character, Piper, believes in her family's Blessing and is waiting for her turn to receive it. The Blessing chooses the person's love, and Piper's family believes it is the most important thing and no one should ever go against it or the family itself. I found myself frustrated a lot with this book. Piper believes in the Blessing and not disappointing her family so much that she won't make any choices or herself. Her job, her college degree, her love life, everything revolves around what her family wants and letting the Blessing choose her love for her. Because she believes so much in all of this, she can't see how incredibly toxic her aunts are.
Piper's parents divorced, going against the Blessing and everything the family stands for, Piper can't accept this at first, and conspires with her aunts to get them back together. No one can accept that Piper's parents went against the Blessing and have their own thoughts and dreams and feelings. Piper's aunts basically threaten her with getting them back together in order for her to be able to take over the family jewelry business. Towards the end of the book the aunts pull an absolutely ridiculous stunt, which for any normal family would have been waaaay over the line and really ground in how toxic they are. Just because you have a family doesn't mean they are always good or that you have to stick by them no matter what.
The romance and how everything works out is rather predictable. There is a love triangle, which I don't generally enjoy, that comes about because of the Blessing and Piper's absolute stubbornness over it. Also, you will never forget there is a Blessing, as it is mentioned on damn near every page. And if it's not, then fate is.
I think this will appeal to younger teenagers. Though the teens in this are all 18, they certainly don't act like it most of the time. But the whole Fate and Blessing storyline will fit better with a younger crowd than those of us who have grown up and out of those kinds of things.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A somewhat cute, but rather predictable YA romance. The story focuses on Fate and believing it can do everything for you and knows what's best. It also focuses on family and how they are the most important thing and know Fate will fix it all. Supposedly.
The main character, Piper, believes in her family's Blessing and is waiting for her turn to receive it. The Blessing chooses the person's love, and Piper's family believes it is the most important thing and no one should ever go against it or the family itself. I found myself frustrated a lot with this book. Piper believes in the Blessing and not disappointing her family so much that she won't make any choices or herself. Her job, her college degree, her love life, everything revolves around what her family wants and letting the Blessing choose her love for her. Because she believes so much in all of this, she can't see how incredibly toxic her aunts are.
Piper's parents divorced, going against the Blessing and everything the family stands for, Piper can't accept this at first, and conspires with her aunts to get them back together. No one can accept that Piper's parents went against the Blessing and have their own thoughts and dreams and feelings. Piper's aunts basically threaten her with getting them back together in order for her to be able to take over the family jewelry business. Towards the end of the book the aunts pull an absolutely ridiculous stunt, which for any normal family would have been waaaay over the line and really ground in how toxic they are. Just because you have a family doesn't mean they are always good or that you have to stick by them no matter what.
The romance and how everything works out is rather predictable. There is a love triangle, which I don't generally enjoy, that comes about because of the Blessing and Piper's absolute stubbornness over it. Also, you will never forget there is a Blessing, as it is mentioned on damn near every page. And if it's not, then fate is.
I think this will appeal to younger teenagers. Though the teens in this are all 18, they certainly don't act like it most of the time. But the whole Fate and Blessing storyline will fit better with a younger crowd than those of us who have grown up and out of those kinds of things.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2025
This one had such a beautiful foundation. There's so much it does well. The disability rep? Wonderful. Piper’s physical disability is written as something that’s present and acknowledged, but not pitied or used as a romantic obstacle. She’s loved, she’s flawed, she’s real. And that alone made me want to root for her. Also, the portrayal of divorced parents who still love and care for each other, while still choosing to be apart? Surprisingly tender and not something you see often.
But I have to admit: this was ultimately a bit younger than expected.
Piper is a very young protagonist. Both in age, in voice, and in worldview. She's obsessive over this family "blessing" (a fated love-at-first-sight thing passed down through generations of women), and it basically consumes her entire personality. I get that it’s the whole premise, but the level of buy-in she had? Kind of exhausting. She clung to the idea of True Love with such intensity that it made her act selfishly to the people around her. Almost Every. Single. Conversation. in this had at least something to do with this concept.
The aunts didn’t help either. They felt more harmful than quirky. Their obsession with the blessing made them feel a little irresponsible.
I enjoyed the actual romance. I love the pushback against fate. That love can grow through friendship, effort, and vulnerability instead of sparks at first glance? Yes, please. Leo was a gem, and the fact that he wasn’t the fated love interest but still ended up being the love interest? Excellent. Great message.
I do think this would’ve been stronger as a novella or a shorter novel. There was a lot of wheel-spinning and it didn't have enough going on to avoid being repetitive. If you’re older than the intended audience, you might feel like I did. Just a bit too removed from Piper’s emotional maturity to fully connect.
Still, this is a sweet and important book in many ways. It centers disability in romance and it challenges the idea that love has to be fated to be real. That’s a message I’ll always support, even when the delivery didn’t totally land for me.
But I have to admit: this was ultimately a bit younger than expected.
Piper is a very young protagonist. Both in age, in voice, and in worldview. She's obsessive over this family "blessing" (a fated love-at-first-sight thing passed down through generations of women), and it basically consumes her entire personality. I get that it’s the whole premise, but the level of buy-in she had? Kind of exhausting. She clung to the idea of True Love with such intensity that it made her act selfishly to the people around her. Almost Every. Single. Conversation. in this had at least something to do with this concept.
The aunts didn’t help either. They felt more harmful than quirky. Their obsession with the blessing made them feel a little irresponsible.
I enjoyed the actual romance. I love the pushback against fate. That love can grow through friendship, effort, and vulnerability instead of sparks at first glance? Yes, please. Leo was a gem, and the fact that he wasn’t the fated love interest but still ended up being the love interest? Excellent. Great message.
I do think this would’ve been stronger as a novella or a shorter novel. There was a lot of wheel-spinning and it didn't have enough going on to avoid being repetitive. If you’re older than the intended audience, you might feel like I did. Just a bit too removed from Piper’s emotional maturity to fully connect.
Still, this is a sweet and important book in many ways. It centers disability in romance and it challenges the idea that love has to be fated to be real. That’s a message I’ll always support, even when the delivery didn’t totally land for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2025
“How do you know what love is until you’ve been heartbroken?”
Everyone wants to find their person. But what if you come from a family that pride themselves on it? Meet Piper. She’s a teenager who comes from a long line of women, all who have found their one true love via a gifted blessing, all while Piper longs to find someone to call her own.
But Piper fears being lucky in love ends with her, especially since she feels like her physical disability stacks the odds against her. Keeping her afloat have been her longstanding friendships, but even those are on shaky ground-her best friend Leo taking an unexplained break from their friendship months prior.
Then one day Leo resurfaces, but without the explanation Piper craves. Despite this, she’s missed their friendship so much that she’s willing to just be happy with him being back in her life. But Leo’s return ends up coinciding with the moment Piper has waited for when she finally meets her fated love, Forest. Unable to put her feelings into words she enlists the more experienced Leo as her love coach. But as time progresses, what is fated and what feels right begin to get murky. Can Piper make sense of her feelings or should she let fate decide?
All the Stars Align is a YA romance that pays homage to Cyrano de Bergerac. While I enjoy angst ridden pining, I did feel like I was older than the intended audience for this book. For example, I felt teenaged Piper’s pouting about how she might never find the one a bit premature. I also felt the story behind her disability was too drawn out, feeling more like checking a box than something that added value to the story. Finally, there was the blessing itself, a phrase that is used ad nauseam (137 times to be exact).
All in all, the stars didn’t completely line up in this one for me. But if you enjoy sweet love stories with a twist of fate, this might work for you.
Everyone wants to find their person. But what if you come from a family that pride themselves on it? Meet Piper. She’s a teenager who comes from a long line of women, all who have found their one true love via a gifted blessing, all while Piper longs to find someone to call her own.
But Piper fears being lucky in love ends with her, especially since she feels like her physical disability stacks the odds against her. Keeping her afloat have been her longstanding friendships, but even those are on shaky ground-her best friend Leo taking an unexplained break from their friendship months prior.
Then one day Leo resurfaces, but without the explanation Piper craves. Despite this, she’s missed their friendship so much that she’s willing to just be happy with him being back in her life. But Leo’s return ends up coinciding with the moment Piper has waited for when she finally meets her fated love, Forest. Unable to put her feelings into words she enlists the more experienced Leo as her love coach. But as time progresses, what is fated and what feels right begin to get murky. Can Piper make sense of her feelings or should she let fate decide?
All the Stars Align is a YA romance that pays homage to Cyrano de Bergerac. While I enjoy angst ridden pining, I did feel like I was older than the intended audience for this book. For example, I felt teenaged Piper’s pouting about how she might never find the one a bit premature. I also felt the story behind her disability was too drawn out, feeling more like checking a box than something that added value to the story. Finally, there was the blessing itself, a phrase that is used ad nauseam (137 times to be exact).
All in all, the stars didn’t completely line up in this one for me. But if you enjoy sweet love stories with a twist of fate, this might work for you.
May 25, 2025
I was gifted an audiobook ARC of this book from PRH Audio. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review.
This is like "what if Lizzie McGuire's family was like the Madrigals (Encanto)?".... But instead of magical powers as a gift, all the women in the family know their true love fate picked for them at first sight. And when Lizzie finds that true love she asks Gordo to give her lessons on how to flirt and not put her foot in her mouth.... And Miranda is there too. And I mean that all in the best way. So many feelings! I loved it. The characters were not physically described as these characters (and Piper has a physical disability), but the relationship dynamic gave me Lizzie McGuire vibes.
Piper made many decisions I wouldn't have made and had a repetitive internal dialogue, but I found that to be very realistic for her age and the YA genre. Who didn't make bad decisions in high school? And what teen girl didn't have obsessive thoughts about her crush?
The audiobook was phenomenal and I had no audiobook complaints.
This is like "what if Lizzie McGuire's family was like the Madrigals (Encanto)?".... But instead of magical powers as a gift, all the women in the family know their true love fate picked for them at first sight. And when Lizzie finds that true love she asks Gordo to give her lessons on how to flirt and not put her foot in her mouth.... And Miranda is there too. And I mean that all in the best way. So many feelings! I loved it. The characters were not physically described as these characters (and Piper has a physical disability), but the relationship dynamic gave me Lizzie McGuire vibes.
Piper made many decisions I wouldn't have made and had a repetitive internal dialogue, but I found that to be very realistic for her age and the YA genre. Who didn't make bad decisions in high school? And what teen girl didn't have obsessive thoughts about her crush?
The audiobook was phenomenal and I had no audiobook complaints.
March 29, 2025
I will always love when authors bring Fate into a story like a real person. This story follows Piper on her journey of figuring out her family and her future. She has to go through a lot of self-discovery and asking what she wants her future to look like. Love is not easy, and Piper discovers that throughout the book. Is Fate the right way to go when looking for love, or do you follow your heart and your own instinct?
I ran through so many emotions in this book. We got a disability rep. It was all so well put together.
5/5 stars for true family, love, and the future!
**Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for a free review copy! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I ran through so many emotions in this book. We got a disability rep. It was all so well put together.
5/5 stars for true family, love, and the future!
**Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for a free review copy! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 31, 2025
This was such a wonderful heartfelt young adult story of young love, fate, teenage angst and growing up. Piper has grown up with her family having a belief that they have a blessing that by Fate that they know their true love by sight. Piper’s Aunts have their own stories and her parents have their story, she is a senior in high school and is anxiously awaiting her fate to appear. She finds herself in a bit of a love triangle after crushing on her best friend, Leo but feels pulled toward Forest- her true love. It’s magical and such a sweet young adult story.
October 13, 2025
It's so uncomfortable how clearly in love with her that the best friend is, and how much she doesn't see it. She's so focused on finding The One that Fate picks out for her, that she never gives him a chance. Then, because he thinks he can steal her back when she finally meets her One, he awkwardly helps teach her how to date....and kiss.
Read by Taylor Meskimen. #booksin25
Read by Taylor Meskimen. #booksin25
did-not-finish
March 28, 2025I think I just don’t vibe with Schreiber’s writing style. It feels quite basic for such a potentially complex premise.
Want to read
July 25, 2025DNF at 33%. Bummer. I thought I might enjoy this until the author randomly throws in a curve ball concerning the main character.
March 24, 2025
I think this book has a lot of potential and probably many will enjoy this but it didn’t worked for me.
March 2, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was cute, but sometimes annoying. It’s supposed to be YA, but it honestly felt more middle grade.
This was cute, but sometimes annoying. It’s supposed to be YA, but it honestly felt more middle grade.
April 17, 2025
Out now! This was a little bit of romance a bit of fantasy I highly recommend this to those teenagers that are just starting to get into reading and want to dip those eyes into fantasy and romance.
This was a quick read and very delightful.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read and very delightful.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
"All the Stars Align" is a YA romance with good intentions that ultimately has a scattered execution. Paige is part of a family that has a Blessing--everyone finds their fated soulmate and is with that person forever and ever and ever. As a senior in high school, she is obsessed with this idea and bothered by the fact that her mother has turned her back on this and has decided to divorce her dad. She is also concerned about her best friend Leo who suddenly wants some space. Then she meets a guy at a party and is convinced he is the soulmate that has been promised. And she's not sure what to do at college next year.
"All the Stars" suffers from trying to do too much. Much of it feels like its realistic fiction, but the magical realism of the Blessing keeps coming back. The main character is pretty lightly drawn in and I found it hard to connect with her trials and tribulations. Many of the side characters--her parents and her friend Diana--were intriguing.
Overall, this book had promise but what hard to focus on. Too much going on.
"All the Stars" suffers from trying to do too much. Much of it feels like its realistic fiction, but the magical realism of the Blessing keeps coming back. The main character is pretty lightly drawn in and I found it hard to connect with her trials and tribulations. Many of the side characters--her parents and her friend Diana--were intriguing.
Overall, this book had promise but what hard to focus on. Too much going on.
February 11, 2025
This is a hard one for me to rate. I liked the overall concept of the story and I enjoyed how it came together at the end, but there were so many things I didn’t love about it. The words Fate and Blessing are said about 1,000 times and it became so monotonous. I counted one page and Fate was mentioned 8 times. I also am not a fan of books assuming that everyone is bisexual. I understand they are most likely trying to emphasize that it’s no big deal who you’re into but it just felt forced to make the main character that way when there was no point to the story at all. I did really love that this book had a disabled girl as the main character and her perspective was really interesting. Overall, it was a fun concept to explore of fate vs choice but I wish it had a few changes.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
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