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With Stars in Her Eyes
The instant USA Today bestselling sapphic bookstore romance about fresh starts and finding that one person who feels like home.
"Snappy, smart, and endlessly swoon-worthy, With Stars In Her Eyes is a front-row ticket to a love story that’s impossible to put down." - Karelia Stetz-Waters, author of Behind the Scenes
Seconds from a meteoric career launch, cellist Courtney Starling suffers a frightening migraine attack during a key performance. While harmful rumors fly, she escapes to her happy place—her best friend’s Kansas bookshop. Courtney’s working incognito when a scream sends her leaping off a shelving ladder to find the woman who screamed cowering near the register.
When Thea Quinn dropped in for a misdelivered package, she did not expect a mortifying encounter with a bearded dragon in front of an inconveniently attractive bookseller. Clutching an upcoming book club flyer and the tattered shreds of her dignity, she heads back to her new piercing job at the tattoo shop next door. She moved to this quirky place for a fresh start. But maybe the meet-disaster was a sign? Maybe Thea needs to branch out beyond her photography hobby and connect with new people…like at a historical romance book club run by a particularly mysterious and sexy bookseller with a pixie cut?
Friendly lunches become stolen moments between the bookshelves. Courtney and Thea's old problems feel ages away. But just as their chemistry heats to a combustion point, consequences from Courtney’s past arrive literally on her doorstep at exactly the wrong moment. New revelations and surprising connections take the pair from feeling joyfully lovestruck to confusingly star-crossed. Both women must decide what they’re willing to give up for happily ever after.
"Dreamy, charming, and full of vividly beautiful moments, Andie Burke's latest novel is a triumph. From witty banter to revelations about moving forward after trauma, it's a powerful story about self-love and finding your voice. I'm head-over-heels for With Stars in Her Eyes.” - Susie Dumond, author of Looking for a Sign
"From the moment of their winged-reptile-prompted, innuendo-filled bookshop meet cute (you'll have to read it to find out!), Courtney and Thea's chemistry was off the charts. Andie Burke's With Stars in Her Eyes delivers all the swoony moments together with heartfelt explorations of living with chronic illness, healing after trauma, and pursuing your creative dreams. Andie Burke's books are always special and singularly her own!" - Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped
"Snappy, smart, and endlessly swoon-worthy, With Stars In Her Eyes is a front-row ticket to a love story that’s impossible to put down." - Karelia Stetz-Waters, author of Behind the Scenes
Seconds from a meteoric career launch, cellist Courtney Starling suffers a frightening migraine attack during a key performance. While harmful rumors fly, she escapes to her happy place—her best friend’s Kansas bookshop. Courtney’s working incognito when a scream sends her leaping off a shelving ladder to find the woman who screamed cowering near the register.
When Thea Quinn dropped in for a misdelivered package, she did not expect a mortifying encounter with a bearded dragon in front of an inconveniently attractive bookseller. Clutching an upcoming book club flyer and the tattered shreds of her dignity, she heads back to her new piercing job at the tattoo shop next door. She moved to this quirky place for a fresh start. But maybe the meet-disaster was a sign? Maybe Thea needs to branch out beyond her photography hobby and connect with new people…like at a historical romance book club run by a particularly mysterious and sexy bookseller with a pixie cut?
Friendly lunches become stolen moments between the bookshelves. Courtney and Thea's old problems feel ages away. But just as their chemistry heats to a combustion point, consequences from Courtney’s past arrive literally on her doorstep at exactly the wrong moment. New revelations and surprising connections take the pair from feeling joyfully lovestruck to confusingly star-crossed. Both women must decide what they’re willing to give up for happily ever after.
"Dreamy, charming, and full of vividly beautiful moments, Andie Burke's latest novel is a triumph. From witty banter to revelations about moving forward after trauma, it's a powerful story about self-love and finding your voice. I'm head-over-heels for With Stars in Her Eyes.” - Susie Dumond, author of Looking for a Sign
"From the moment of their winged-reptile-prompted, innuendo-filled bookshop meet cute (you'll have to read it to find out!), Courtney and Thea's chemistry was off the charts. Andie Burke's With Stars in Her Eyes delivers all the swoony moments together with heartfelt explorations of living with chronic illness, healing after trauma, and pursuing your creative dreams. Andie Burke's books are always special and singularly her own!" - Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Never Been Shipped
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2025
79 people are currently reading
15340 people want to read
About the author
Andie Burke
4 books582 followersAndie Burke writes books with queer kissing and happily ever afters. She was originally an English major who decided to jump into a pediatric nursing career. Her writing is inspired by over a decade spent working in hospitals with patients of all ages. After the last couple years spent in the pandemic ER, she escaped to an outpatient pediatric sedation unit. Andie lives in a blue house in Maryland with an alarming number of books and an embarrassing number of ultra-fine point pens. When she’s not writing, she’s probably feeding snacks to the two small human creatures who live with her or trying not to kill her chaotic houseplants. You can find her on Bookstagram adding to her ever-expanding TBR or letting her ADHD brain happily dissociate while listening to Taylor Swift.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
September 27, 2025
this was not the bookstore romance i was promised, it was a rockstar one???
thank you to netgalley and smp for the arc!!
thank you to netgalley and smp for the arc!!
August 17, 2025
I absolutely loved Fly with Me so of course, I wanted to read the author’s new book. At first glance, the story seems simple, a cute meet between a body piercer, Thea Quinn, and a bookseller, Courtney Starling. There’s good chemistry but for different reasons, they both want to go slow on getting to know each other. I immediately thought small town romance in Kansas but it’s much more.
Both Thea and Courtney have hidden parts of themselves from the world. Thea has dreams of being a photographer. The outdoor scenes when she is taking pictures of the stars are magical. But it’s Courtney who is leading a double life which leads to big dollops of the miscommunication trope. I kept wondering why?!? Just tell Thea and your friends the truth. Here’s what differs in this book. Courtney comes from a long history of abuse and gaslighting which skews the way she views the world. I appreciated the way the author handles Courtney’s confusion and panic over her situation. It seems spot on for her to be hesitant because she mistakenly believes disclosing everything could hurt the people she loves. The reveals are perfect and the ending is satisfying.
I also want to mention the amazing banter between the mains as well as the supporting characters. The author is so good with the back and forth. I recommend to fans of slow burns, sharp dialogue, celebrity stories, photographers, and characters struggling with past trauma.
4.25 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
Both Thea and Courtney have hidden parts of themselves from the world. Thea has dreams of being a photographer. The outdoor scenes when she is taking pictures of the stars are magical. But it’s Courtney who is leading a double life which leads to big dollops of the miscommunication trope. I kept wondering why?!? Just tell Thea and your friends the truth. Here’s what differs in this book. Courtney comes from a long history of abuse and gaslighting which skews the way she views the world. I appreciated the way the author handles Courtney’s confusion and panic over her situation. It seems spot on for her to be hesitant because she mistakenly believes disclosing everything could hurt the people she loves. The reveals are perfect and the ending is satisfying.
I also want to mention the amazing banter between the mains as well as the supporting characters. The author is so good with the back and forth. I recommend to fans of slow burns, sharp dialogue, celebrity stories, photographers, and characters struggling with past trauma.
4.25 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
May 2, 2025
Well, this was...not good.
Before I get into this review, let me start by saying that I am, of course, aware that ARCs are not finalized copies and that there is still room for changes to be made before the book goes to print. Even with that in mind, I can't ignore the extent to which the writing and its desperate need for significant editing influenced my opinions on this book. It is rife with grammatical errors, mismatched modifiers, and other technical issues that made it extremely frustrating to read. The entire book was written in first-person with the exception of one sentence that was inexplicably written in third-person. I lost count of the number of times I had to reread sentences because they simply did not make sense as written. If I'm too focused on issues with the technical writing aspects of a book to actually focus on or enjoy the story itself, we have a problem.
When I wasn't too busy trying to make sense of the poorly constructed sentences, I couldn't really bring myself to care much about the two main characters or their relationship. Thea and Courtney were not distinct enough for me to keep them straight the majority of the time. There were very few, if any, dialogue tags, and because the two main characters had such similar voices, I often struggled to determine which character was speaking. Similarly, because this book had a dual POV and utilized first-person narration, I found myself constantly forgetting whose POV I was meant to be in despite the fact that, for the most part, the POV changed back and forth with each chapter.
I didn't feel there was much character development in this book, nor was there much depth to either of their individual histories. For example, Thea often spoke somewhat vaguely about feeling like an outsider in her family despite being "close" with her mom and speaking to her regularly and often. There wasn't much insight as to why she felt that way or how it really impacted her beyond the surface-level discussion of wishing that wasn't the case. Courtney's religious trauma and clearly abusive relationship with her ex-husband, Jeremiah, were also largely glossed over. Despite them being mentioned on several occasions, those aspects of her life were primarily talked about in somewhat vague terms. Things that seemed important, such as Courtney's prior abortion and Jeremiah's blackmailing, were constantly brought up over the course of the book but then seemed to disappear toward the 80% mark. There were so many opportunities for this story to delve into and unpack heavy, significant topics, but they were missed essentially every time. While I can understand wanting to keep a romance novel on the lighter side, what I can't understand is opting to go that route after throwing in aspects that explicitly contradict that tone.
This was my first Andie Burke novel, and if it's representative of her writing as a whole, I'm afraid it might be my last. I expected more from it, especially considering it's her third traditionally published book, and unfortunately it was just a letdown in almost every way. I hope the pervasive technical errors are corrected in full before this book is officially published and that future readers are able to get more enjoyment out of it than I did. As a lesbian, I really am rooting for sapphic books to be good and successful so we can continue to see ourselves represented in this medium, and it's a shame when they miss the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Before I get into this review, let me start by saying that I am, of course, aware that ARCs are not finalized copies and that there is still room for changes to be made before the book goes to print. Even with that in mind, I can't ignore the extent to which the writing and its desperate need for significant editing influenced my opinions on this book. It is rife with grammatical errors, mismatched modifiers, and other technical issues that made it extremely frustrating to read. The entire book was written in first-person with the exception of one sentence that was inexplicably written in third-person. I lost count of the number of times I had to reread sentences because they simply did not make sense as written. If I'm too focused on issues with the technical writing aspects of a book to actually focus on or enjoy the story itself, we have a problem.
When I wasn't too busy trying to make sense of the poorly constructed sentences, I couldn't really bring myself to care much about the two main characters or their relationship. Thea and Courtney were not distinct enough for me to keep them straight the majority of the time. There were very few, if any, dialogue tags, and because the two main characters had such similar voices, I often struggled to determine which character was speaking. Similarly, because this book had a dual POV and utilized first-person narration, I found myself constantly forgetting whose POV I was meant to be in despite the fact that, for the most part, the POV changed back and forth with each chapter.
I didn't feel there was much character development in this book, nor was there much depth to either of their individual histories. For example, Thea often spoke somewhat vaguely about feeling like an outsider in her family despite being "close" with her mom and speaking to her regularly and often. There wasn't much insight as to why she felt that way or how it really impacted her beyond the surface-level discussion of wishing that wasn't the case. Courtney's religious trauma and clearly abusive relationship with her ex-husband, Jeremiah, were also largely glossed over. Despite them being mentioned on several occasions, those aspects of her life were primarily talked about in somewhat vague terms. Things that seemed important, such as Courtney's prior abortion and Jeremiah's blackmailing, were constantly brought up over the course of the book but then seemed to disappear toward the 80% mark. There were so many opportunities for this story to delve into and unpack heavy, significant topics, but they were missed essentially every time. While I can understand wanting to keep a romance novel on the lighter side, what I can't understand is opting to go that route after throwing in aspects that explicitly contradict that tone.
This was my first Andie Burke novel, and if it's representative of her writing as a whole, I'm afraid it might be my last. I expected more from it, especially considering it's her third traditionally published book, and unfortunately it was just a letdown in almost every way. I hope the pervasive technical errors are corrected in full before this book is officially published and that future readers are able to get more enjoyment out of it than I did. As a lesbian, I really am rooting for sapphic books to be good and successful so we can continue to see ourselves represented in this medium, and it's a shame when they miss the mark.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2025
[Oct 2025] To enjoy a book with a ridiculous premise, sometimes you just need to suspend your disbelief a little harder. I did so on rereading this book and enjoyed it much more the second time through.
[Sept 2025]
This book only works if you accept the premise that a cello player in a semi-famous rock band is a superstar in the making.
Fortunately for the first FMC, Courtney, the other FMC, Thea, is apparently a huge fan of the cello player in the semi-famous rock band. So much so, that this becomes the crux of the conflict later in the story (but not a 3AB, because no one likes those!). Well, true that.
The other problem has been mentioned frequently in other reviews that there is just too much going on with Courtney’s backstory. She suffers from debilitating migraines, and she had a traumatic childhood due to overbearing Fundamentalist Christian parents. I understand both issues were semi-autobiographical, but Burke needed to pick just one. Maybe save the other for a future book.
So how was the sapphic romance? It was lovely, but I adored the author’s debut novel, Fly with Me, so Burke had me at “nose-ringed piercing artist falls for pixie haired bookseller.”
[Sept 2025]
This book only works if you accept the premise that a cello player in a semi-famous rock band is a superstar in the making.
Fortunately for the first FMC, Courtney, the other FMC, Thea, is apparently a huge fan of the cello player in the semi-famous rock band. So much so, that this becomes the crux of the conflict later in the story (but not a 3AB, because no one likes those!). Well, true that.
The other problem has been mentioned frequently in other reviews that there is just too much going on with Courtney’s backstory. She suffers from debilitating migraines, and she had a traumatic childhood due to overbearing Fundamentalist Christian parents. I understand both issues were semi-autobiographical, but Burke needed to pick just one. Maybe save the other for a future book.
So how was the sapphic romance? It was lovely, but I adored the author’s debut novel, Fly with Me, so Burke had me at “nose-ringed piercing artist falls for pixie haired bookseller.”
September 17, 2025
I had a harder time reviewing this book because I wanted to love it. With Stars in Her Eyes by Andie Burke had everything on paper that should’ve made it a new favorite for me: a cozy small-town bookshop, a slow-burn sapphic romance between a cellist in hiding and a freshly transplanted piercer, and plenty of banter and quirky little moments (the animal antics made me smile every time). I also really loved the side characters—they were written with such charm—and Courtney’s chronic migraine rep felt thoughtful and grounding.
But even though there were a lot of bright spots, the book as a whole didn’t quite work for me. Both Courtney and Thea carry heavy histories—religious trauma, toxic families, loss—and while Burke approaches these themes with heart, I felt like they didn’t always get the nuance or depth they deserved. And then there’s the “non–third act breakup” breakup. The story built up such a tender, slow burn, with these two characters being so attentive and communicative with each other, that the breakup felt out of step with their personalities. It came across less like a natural conflict and more like a formulaic box checked because trad-pub romances often “require” it, and that pulled me out of the story -it was hard for me to swallow.
I think this is where my reading preferences come in—I’m not really the target audience for romances that lean on that trope. Readers who love the familiar rhythm of small-town romance arcs (yes, including the big dramatic breakup, but not really a break-up the way the author outlined it- I'm still left scratching my head with this part) will probably enjoy this much more than I did. And for readers newer to sapphic romance, this could be a sweet, accessible entry point.
All of that said, I have to give full credit to the audiobook. The narrators— Chelsea Stephens, and Natalie Naudus—were fantastic. Their performances brought so much warmth and depth to the characters, and honestly, they’re the reason I kept going to the end. If you do pick this one up, I’d highly recommend trying it in audio.
I really wanted to love this one as much as Fly With Me—which was a big hit for me—but With Stars in Her Eyes just didn’t reach the heights I hoped for. Still, I think plenty of readers will find comfort and swoony charm here—it just wasn’t my perfect match.
But even though there were a lot of bright spots, the book as a whole didn’t quite work for me. Both Courtney and Thea carry heavy histories—religious trauma, toxic families, loss—and while Burke approaches these themes with heart, I felt like they didn’t always get the nuance or depth they deserved. And then there’s the “non–third act breakup” breakup. The story built up such a tender, slow burn, with these two characters being so attentive and communicative with each other, that the breakup felt out of step with their personalities. It came across less like a natural conflict and more like a formulaic box checked because trad-pub romances often “require” it, and that pulled me out of the story -it was hard for me to swallow.
I think this is where my reading preferences come in—I’m not really the target audience for romances that lean on that trope. Readers who love the familiar rhythm of small-town romance arcs (yes, including the big dramatic breakup, but not really a break-up the way the author outlined it- I'm still left scratching my head with this part) will probably enjoy this much more than I did. And for readers newer to sapphic romance, this could be a sweet, accessible entry point.
All of that said, I have to give full credit to the audiobook. The narrators— Chelsea Stephens, and Natalie Naudus—were fantastic. Their performances brought so much warmth and depth to the characters, and honestly, they’re the reason I kept going to the end. If you do pick this one up, I’d highly recommend trying it in audio.
I really wanted to love this one as much as Fly With Me—which was a big hit for me—but With Stars in Her Eyes just didn’t reach the heights I hoped for. Still, I think plenty of readers will find comfort and swoony charm here—it just wasn’t my perfect match.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
Huge thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s press | St. Martin’s Griffin and author Andie Burke, for providing me with the eARC of “With Stars in her Eyes”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
This book was a perfect rainy-day read.
It felt warm, cozy and mystical.
Courtney has been a musician since she was a child. She has recently decided to take a break from her career, due to health issues. While on break she is working with a friend at a Kanas bookshop.
This is where she meets Thea- a tattoo artist and photographer that has just moved to the same town to escape her complicated family relationships.
The two women aren’t looking for love but form an instant connection to each other.
There just happens to be a lot that Thea has yet to learn about Courtney.
Perfect if you love:
- Sapphic Romance
- Slow burn romance
- Cozy romance
- Celebrity romance
Courtney and Thea are adorable. I loved them.
I thought both of their characters were written beautifully, and I could really feel the connection between them.
I was actually aching for them to have their first romantic encounter.
Like please KISS THE GIRL ALREADY! The slow burn was definitely burning for me.
It was oh-so good when things finally picked up.
Both characters were well developed, with their own individual problems. The story didn’t feel completely taken over by just one of them. It was quite balanced.
This story is dual-pov as well, which I always think makes everything feel much more personal.
I appreciated hearing Thea’s stories about how she felt secondary to her siblings, who were all married with children. She felt that her mother viewed her as being less than them, and always put her in uncomfortable situations to prioritize them.
I think a lot of readers could probably relate to her here.
Bonus points for the inclusion of cute animals. I love that.
I think this is definitely worth the read!
Publication date: September 16th, 2025
This book was a perfect rainy-day read.
It felt warm, cozy and mystical.
Courtney has been a musician since she was a child. She has recently decided to take a break from her career, due to health issues. While on break she is working with a friend at a Kanas bookshop.
This is where she meets Thea- a tattoo artist and photographer that has just moved to the same town to escape her complicated family relationships.
The two women aren’t looking for love but form an instant connection to each other.
There just happens to be a lot that Thea has yet to learn about Courtney.
Perfect if you love:
- Sapphic Romance
- Slow burn romance
- Cozy romance
- Celebrity romance
Courtney and Thea are adorable. I loved them.
I thought both of their characters were written beautifully, and I could really feel the connection between them.
I was actually aching for them to have their first romantic encounter.
Like please KISS THE GIRL ALREADY! The slow burn was definitely burning for me.
It was oh-so good when things finally picked up.
Both characters were well developed, with their own individual problems. The story didn’t feel completely taken over by just one of them. It was quite balanced.
This story is dual-pov as well, which I always think makes everything feel much more personal.
I appreciated hearing Thea’s stories about how she felt secondary to her siblings, who were all married with children. She felt that her mother viewed her as being less than them, and always put her in uncomfortable situations to prioritize them.
I think a lot of readers could probably relate to her here.
Bonus points for the inclusion of cute animals. I love that.
I think this is definitely worth the read!
Read
September 15, 2025This is a sweet slow-burn small-town sapphic romance. Thea is new to the small Kansas town where Courtney (recently crashed out secret rock star) is recovering as a bookseller at her friend’s bookstore.
This book had great found family vibes and made a few references to Stars Hollow, which I think it was emulating a bit with the town community setting.
Both Thea and Courtney are dealing with and not dealing with past trauma in different ways, and I loved how their relationship slowly developed.
Even with this slow development, the jump to sex seemed a little intense, and then the spiraling began to happen. Overall, I loved the messages in this book and enjoyed the read, but some things worked better than others. I was definitely rooting for the main couple and loved all the call-outs to sapphic romances and classic romance tropes. It definitely made me want to live in their world where so many sapphic books with clinch covers existed.
There is something so heady about first discovering and falling in love with sapphic romance books, and I think this book captured it well.
This was an uncorrected ARC, and some issues with POV made sentences/scenes confusing. It seems like maybe the book was drafted in third person, then partially switched to first. Sometimes the POV switched from first person to third in the same sentence, but hopefully that will all be worked out.
Overall, I loved this one; it really pulled me in and was messy in really satisfying ways.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
This book had great found family vibes and made a few references to Stars Hollow, which I think it was emulating a bit with the town community setting.
Both Thea and Courtney are dealing with and not dealing with past trauma in different ways, and I loved how their relationship slowly developed.
Even with this slow development, the jump to sex seemed a little intense, and then the spiraling began to happen. Overall, I loved the messages in this book and enjoyed the read, but some things worked better than others. I was definitely rooting for the main couple and loved all the call-outs to sapphic romances and classic romance tropes. It definitely made me want to live in their world where so many sapphic books with clinch covers existed.
There is something so heady about first discovering and falling in love with sapphic romance books, and I think this book captured it well.
This was an uncorrected ARC, and some issues with POV made sentences/scenes confusing. It seems like maybe the book was drafted in third person, then partially switched to first. Sometimes the POV switched from first person to third in the same sentence, but hopefully that will all be worked out.
Overall, I loved this one; it really pulled me in and was messy in really satisfying ways.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Read
October 30, 2025I liked the bookstore meet cute and, of course, I enjoy some flirting over books. I really enjoyed this author’s debut and was excited to get my hands on this one.
As someone with religious trauma myself, I liked seeing the way it was explored here and the theme surrounding deconstruction.
Overall, sapphic romance lovers should check this one out!
As someone with religious trauma myself, I liked seeing the way it was explored here and the theme surrounding deconstruction.
Overall, sapphic romance lovers should check this one out!
September 9, 2025
After really enjoyed two of Andie Burke's books, I thought I might have a new favourite romance author on my hands, but sadly, this was my least favourite book of hers. There's definitely a lot to love about this, and the book has a lot of cute moments filled with potential, but overall it didn't work for me. The characters both have pretty heavy backgrounds, and I felt like those weren't always approached with the nuance they deserved. There were many very silly moments as well, and combined with the heavier themes, this felt jarring at times and also just a little too ridiculous.
December 13, 2025
˚ ༘♡ pre-read:
╰┈➤ SAPPHIC ROMANCE TIME
⋆˚࿔ With Stars in Her Eyes review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 2.5 stars!
I really wanted to love With Stars in Her Eyes, especially since I enjoyed Fall For Him, but this one was kind of mixed for me. The chemistry between the main characters was solid and definitely worked at moments and the third act conflict had me invested for sure.
However, I struggled a lot with the characters. Courtney and Thea didn’t really feel like they had distinct voices, which made it hard for me to fully connect to either of them. I found myself double checking whose chapter I was even in at times. Courtney in particular was a frustrating character. Her backstory genuinely made my heart hurt for her, but it also felt like there was too much going on at once. I also didn’t love how the very silly, almost goofy moments were mixed in with such dark themed backstories. The tonal shift didn’t always work for me and sometimes pulled me out of the story.
Overall, there were things I liked, but the characters and shifting tone kept this from being a favorite for me. Not a bad book just not the standout I was hoping for.
╰┈➤ SAPPHIC ROMANCE TIME
⋆˚࿔ With Stars in Her Eyes review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 2.5 stars!
I really wanted to love With Stars in Her Eyes, especially since I enjoyed Fall For Him, but this one was kind of mixed for me. The chemistry between the main characters was solid and definitely worked at moments and the third act conflict had me invested for sure.
However, I struggled a lot with the characters. Courtney and Thea didn’t really feel like they had distinct voices, which made it hard for me to fully connect to either of them. I found myself double checking whose chapter I was even in at times. Courtney in particular was a frustrating character. Her backstory genuinely made my heart hurt for her, but it also felt like there was too much going on at once. I also didn’t love how the very silly, almost goofy moments were mixed in with such dark themed backstories. The tonal shift didn’t always work for me and sometimes pulled me out of the story.
Overall, there were things I liked, but the characters and shifting tone kept this from being a favorite for me. Not a bad book just not the standout I was hoping for.
September 13, 2025
3.5 rounded up
This was a fun dual POV, Sapphic romance involving a bookstore employee and a former/burnt out singer/songwriter. It had tons of small town charm, great found family vibes, excellent disability rep (one of the FMCs has chronic migraines) and it was also good on audio narrated by Chelsea Stephens and Natalie Naudus. While enjoyable though it wasn’t my fav by this author and probably won’t be a standout for me this year. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was a fun dual POV, Sapphic romance involving a bookstore employee and a former/burnt out singer/songwriter. It had tons of small town charm, great found family vibes, excellent disability rep (one of the FMCs has chronic migraines) and it was also good on audio narrated by Chelsea Stephens and Natalie Naudus. While enjoyable though it wasn’t my fav by this author and probably won’t be a standout for me this year. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
September 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for providing me with a copy of
With Stars in Her Eyes!
As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
4.25 stars rounded down
✨ Sapphic Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: lesbian MC, bisexual MC & SC, chronic migraine rep, religious trauma
I recommend if you enjoy…
- fun banter
- a cozier romance
- animal SCs
- stars
- books about books
Content warnings after review.
General Thoughts
I hadn’t read any book by Andie Burke prior to this one (though Fly With Me has been on my TBR for a while…). I was particularly interested in this one because 1. Bookstore??? Obviously that appeals to me… and 2. One of the characters (Courtney) has a religious past and has had to undergo religious deconstruction which is a theme that is of interest to me.
I really enjoyed the vibe of this book. It didn’t feel like it took itself too seriously. The banter between Thea and Courtney had me highlighting and smiling throughout the book. While there are a few heavy topics throughout the book, and it clearly affects Courtney (in particular) the book doesn’t ever feel overly weighed down. The humor and connections between the characters feels like it is at the forefront of the story which gives a lighter feel. (Especially with there being several moments in the book that were tongue-in-cheek.)
I appreciated the rep including Courtney mentioning comp het after leaving her marriage and realizing she is a lesbian. (Promise this isn’t a spoiler… it’s in the prologue!) As well as the chronic migraine rep, since I have dealt with them myself as well as several family members. I could relate to the frustration with finding a treatment that works. (I’m far worse at understanding my triggers though.)
Characters & Romance
I loved how both main characters had such good support systems! The found family vibe was immaculate, and I loved so many of the side characters (including the animals!). Courtney and Thea’s romance was very sweet and felt genuine to me. I liked the “dating in analog” aspect, and even though there was a bit of tension and longing I did like that their developing friendship and connection (i.e. banter) felt a bit more at the forefront of the story. Considering there is a bit of an insta-love trope going on, I think there being a bit less of a focus on their physical connection initially was a good thing and made sure the romance didn’t feel rushed or disingenuous. A minor critique is it’s one thing to have an almost-moment (almost kiss, etc.) once or twice…. but when it gets more than that it is a bit repetitive and somewhat annoying. I think the conflict toward the end almost felt a bit forced. I’m not sure I believed it, but I did really like the resolution and how that was handled. I can’t complain too much considering how much I enjoyed the rest.
Final Thoughts
I thought this was an easy and enjoyable read. It almost felt cozy in a way with how many funny moments there were. I do think the humor may appeal a bit more to people of the ~millennial age (of which I am). So it might not hit for everyone, but it was a hit for me. Definitely interested in reading more by Andie Burke in the future!
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
past religious trauma, depictions of chronic illness (including negativity from others), childhood neglect, emotional abuse by a spouse, divorce, past ab*rtion, explicit s*xual content
4.25 stars rounded down
✨ Sapphic Adult Contemporary Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: lesbian MC, bisexual MC & SC, chronic migraine rep, religious trauma
I recommend if you enjoy…
- fun banter
- a cozier romance
- animal SCs
- stars
- books about books
Content warnings after review.
General Thoughts
I hadn’t read any book by Andie Burke prior to this one (though Fly With Me has been on my TBR for a while…). I was particularly interested in this one because 1. Bookstore??? Obviously that appeals to me… and 2. One of the characters (Courtney) has a religious past and has had to undergo religious deconstruction which is a theme that is of interest to me.
I really enjoyed the vibe of this book. It didn’t feel like it took itself too seriously. The banter between Thea and Courtney had me highlighting and smiling throughout the book. While there are a few heavy topics throughout the book, and it clearly affects Courtney (in particular) the book doesn’t ever feel overly weighed down. The humor and connections between the characters feels like it is at the forefront of the story which gives a lighter feel. (Especially with there being several moments in the book that were tongue-in-cheek.)
I appreciated the rep including Courtney mentioning comp het after leaving her marriage and realizing she is a lesbian. (Promise this isn’t a spoiler… it’s in the prologue!) As well as the chronic migraine rep, since I have dealt with them myself as well as several family members. I could relate to the frustration with finding a treatment that works. (I’m far worse at understanding my triggers though.)
Characters & Romance
I loved how both main characters had such good support systems! The found family vibe was immaculate, and I loved so many of the side characters (including the animals!). Courtney and Thea’s romance was very sweet and felt genuine to me. I liked the “dating in analog” aspect, and even though there was a bit of tension and longing I did like that their developing friendship and connection (i.e. banter) felt a bit more at the forefront of the story. Considering there is a bit of an insta-love trope going on, I think there being a bit less of a focus on their physical connection initially was a good thing and made sure the romance didn’t feel rushed or disingenuous. A minor critique is it’s one thing to have an almost-moment (almost kiss, etc.) once or twice…. but when it gets more than that it is a bit repetitive and somewhat annoying. I think the conflict toward the end almost felt a bit forced. I’m not sure I believed it, but I did really like the resolution and how that was handled. I can’t complain too much considering how much I enjoyed the rest.
Final Thoughts
I thought this was an easy and enjoyable read. It almost felt cozy in a way with how many funny moments there were. I do think the humor may appeal a bit more to people of the ~millennial age (of which I am). So it might not hit for everyone, but it was a hit for me. Definitely interested in reading more by Andie Burke in the future!
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
past religious trauma, depictions of chronic illness (including negativity from others), childhood neglect, emotional abuse by a spouse, divorce, past ab*rtion, explicit s*xual content
October 31, 2025
I really liked the setup here - two women at crossroads in their lives, a bookshop, a tattoo studio next door, and a meet-cute that actually made me laugh. The early chapters had great energy and the banter between Courtney and Thea was sharp and charming. I also loved all the bookish nods.
But once the romance got going, the story lost some spark. Courtney’s backstory is a lot - religious trauma, migraines, a bad marriage - and while those are important parts of her, they didn’t always blend naturally with the tone of the book. Thea’s family issues felt half-finished, and a few plotlines just vanished without resolution. By the middle, I found myself skimming a little as it felt like the same arguments, the same emotional loops, and not much new ground.
That said, the writing itself is lovely and I could feel the author’s sincerity throughout. The Kansas setting, the sense of starting over, the friendship group - all of that worked really well. I just wish the story had been a bit more cohesive. Not a bad read, just uneven.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
But once the romance got going, the story lost some spark. Courtney’s backstory is a lot - religious trauma, migraines, a bad marriage - and while those are important parts of her, they didn’t always blend naturally with the tone of the book. Thea’s family issues felt half-finished, and a few plotlines just vanished without resolution. By the middle, I found myself skimming a little as it felt like the same arguments, the same emotional loops, and not much new ground.
That said, the writing itself is lovely and I could feel the author’s sincerity throughout. The Kansas setting, the sense of starting over, the friendship group - all of that worked really well. I just wish the story had been a bit more cohesive. Not a bad read, just uneven.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2025
I was absolutely hooked on this book!
I felt the representation in this book was done really well. My best friend suffers from migraines and hearing her stories made Courtney feel real. Also, the religious trauma mentioned throughout is also relatable.
I adored Thea I just wish we got a little more development with her family and setting boundaries. I think the story leaned more towards to Courtney and wish Thea's struggles had an equal amount.
The side characters along with the bookshop with fun animals was so fun!
Thank you st. Martin and NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copies.
I felt the representation in this book was done really well. My best friend suffers from migraines and hearing her stories made Courtney feel real. Also, the religious trauma mentioned throughout is also relatable.
I adored Thea I just wish we got a little more development with her family and setting boundaries. I think the story leaned more towards to Courtney and wish Thea's struggles had an equal amount.
The side characters along with the bookshop with fun animals was so fun!
Thank you st. Martin and NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copies.
September 3, 2025
Sadly was disappointed by this one. I went into it hoping for a cute queer Hallmark-style sapphic rockstar romance and with all the dumb banter and misunderstandings it read more like a YA novel. And I like YA.
Courtney has a secret identity as Kestrel, a former Christian rock child prodigy who now does her own thing on the electric cello. But her mainstream rock career fizzled with chronic migraines and a toxic record label. She's taking a sabbatical in her hometown to recover, working at her best friend's bookstore. Then she meets the cute tattoo artist next door, and the two bond over a shared love of smutty books and weird animal encounters.
First off, they are both instantly attracted to each other and start immediately, obviously, painfully crushing on each other, which okay, happens. I like instalove if it's well done instead of middle school drama. Then together with the heavy banter, which I like some of, I wanted to knock those two over the head and tell them to act like grownups and just admit they liked each other. It stopped being cute, so I stopped caring about their romance when they got together, especially since the only tension was in juvenile and pretty large misunderstandings.
I did like how Thea was a badass bi butch lady. Seems like bi sapphics are usually femme in books, and I want more bi butches. I also appreciated how it touched on deeper themes like chronic illness and ex-vangelism. I thought it was sweet how Thea and Courtney bonded over Thea not wanting to do soul sucking photography jobs (she was a hobbyist) and Courtney still figuring out her identity as an artist.
Overall I think this was just too cutesy and bubbly for my taste, and it struck an odd tone with the darker themes. I seem to have the worst luck with contemporary romance but I am just very picky. I want to feel an emotional connection to the characters as they're falling in love and that didn't happen here for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Courtney has a secret identity as Kestrel, a former Christian rock child prodigy who now does her own thing on the electric cello. But her mainstream rock career fizzled with chronic migraines and a toxic record label. She's taking a sabbatical in her hometown to recover, working at her best friend's bookstore. Then she meets the cute tattoo artist next door, and the two bond over a shared love of smutty books and weird animal encounters.
First off, they are both instantly attracted to each other and start immediately, obviously, painfully crushing on each other, which okay, happens. I like instalove if it's well done instead of middle school drama. Then together with the heavy banter, which I like some of, I wanted to knock those two over the head and tell them to act like grownups and just admit they liked each other. It stopped being cute, so I stopped caring about their romance when they got together, especially since the only tension was in juvenile and pretty large misunderstandings.
I did like how Thea was a badass bi butch lady. Seems like bi sapphics are usually femme in books, and I want more bi butches. I also appreciated how it touched on deeper themes like chronic illness and ex-vangelism. I thought it was sweet how Thea and Courtney bonded over Thea not wanting to do soul sucking photography jobs (she was a hobbyist) and Courtney still figuring out her identity as an artist.
Overall I think this was just too cutesy and bubbly for my taste, and it struck an odd tone with the darker themes. I seem to have the worst luck with contemporary romance but I am just very picky. I want to feel an emotional connection to the characters as they're falling in love and that didn't happen here for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 6, 2025
Although the concept is captivating, the execution is lacking. The writing is sophomoric, with poor grammar and a distinct lack of character development. The scene where our love interests meet is banal and mostly about sexual attraction writ large, and in a clumsy way.
This needed a clear-eyed editor who was not afraid to demand rewrites. It has promise, but it does not deliver.
Please, someone, explain mismatched modifiers to Burke:
"Squid Tattoo Shop was located in an enormous old brick building surrounded by giant old trees that used to be St. Clare Preparatory School."
This happens repeatedly in the book. It's an easy catch, which tells me not enough eyes were on this book in the early stages. (Also don't use the same word twice in a sentence. Did an editor or copy editor even look at this?)
I hope it can be fixed pre-release because I love the concept; the poor writing gets in the way.
This needed a clear-eyed editor who was not afraid to demand rewrites. It has promise, but it does not deliver.
Please, someone, explain mismatched modifiers to Burke:
"Squid Tattoo Shop was located in an enormous old brick building surrounded by giant old trees that used to be St. Clare Preparatory School."
This happens repeatedly in the book. It's an easy catch, which tells me not enough eyes were on this book in the early stages. (Also don't use the same word twice in a sentence. Did an editor or copy editor even look at this?)
I hope it can be fixed pre-release because I love the concept; the poor writing gets in the way.
October 1, 2025
I really have mixed feelings on this one! 🙃
thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
✦ tropes & stuff:
😍 insta lust
❄️ snowed in
🎻 famous musician (cellist) + bookseller
🫣 hidden identity
📸 piercing artist & photographer
🌳 small town
🫶🏼 found family
💞 dual 1st person pov
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
ebook | ⭐️: 3.5 | 🌶️: 2.5 |
I LOVED the characters, both main & side, their journeys, the way they interacted with one another.
Their meet-disaster was ADORABLE, and I loved how naturally Courtney & Thea’s relationship developed over the course of the story.
Unfortunately I found the writing itself to be super rough, chaotic and all over the place. There were honestly maybe a few too many characters, and too much going on in everyone’s backstories.
this WAS read as an ARC, so it’s possible that it’s been edited before publication, however, it really had an impact of my enjoyment of the story, so it’s hard for me to leave that out of my review.
Unfortunately without a finished copy, I can’t say if that’s improved (nor do I plan to read it again).
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
✦ tropes & stuff:
😍 insta lust
❄️ snowed in
🎻 famous musician (cellist) + bookseller
🫣 hidden identity
📸 piercing artist & photographer
🌳 small town
🫶🏼 found family
💞 dual 1st person pov
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
ebook | ⭐️: 3.5 | 🌶️: 2.5 |
I LOVED the characters, both main & side, their journeys, the way they interacted with one another.
Their meet-disaster was ADORABLE, and I loved how naturally Courtney & Thea’s relationship developed over the course of the story.
Unfortunately I found the writing itself to be super rough, chaotic and all over the place. There were honestly maybe a few too many characters, and too much going on in everyone’s backstories.
this WAS read as an ARC, so it’s possible that it’s been edited before publication, however, it really had an impact of my enjoyment of the story, so it’s hard for me to leave that out of my review.
Unfortunately without a finished copy, I can’t say if that’s improved (nor do I plan to read it again).
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
October 6, 2025
A bit up and down for me. I loved the storyline of leaving high control religion and not understanding her sexuality because she was entrenched in that world, I wanted more from that. I also enjoyed side character Marshall who could get his own book. I also enjoyed side character the setting in a bookstore. I felt the last third of the book was a bit tedious.
April 6, 2025
Before I get into my review of “With Stars In Her Eyes”, I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
This was my first time reading an Andie Burke book and I had fun! This book was well written when it came to the settings and characters.
My only “complaint” is that this book just felt kind of average…? I was excited for this plot but at some points, I felt the plot was lost.
I can’t point out where without spoiling the book, but in some moments near the 70%-80% mark showed this.
However; if you’re looking for a cute cozy book to read while it’s raining outside I feel like this might be the book for you.
I want to give Andie Burke another shot so I hope to start “Fly With Me” soon!
This was my first time reading an Andie Burke book and I had fun! This book was well written when it came to the settings and characters.
My only “complaint” is that this book just felt kind of average…? I was excited for this plot but at some points, I felt the plot was lost.
I can’t point out where without spoiling the book, but in some moments near the 70%-80% mark showed this.
However; if you’re looking for a cute cozy book to read while it’s raining outside I feel like this might be the book for you.
I want to give Andie Burke another shot so I hope to start “Fly With Me” soon!
September 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC!
This story finds Thea moving to a small town to stay with her friend, Marshall. While there, Thea becomes enamored with a local bookshop worker, Courtney. Through books, foster animals, and night sky photographs, Courtney and Thea build a friendship and romance. But, Courtney’s past comes knocking…
What I enjoyed the most was the religious trauma rep. I really connected to Courtney’s stories of growing up, missing out on normal childhood development, and clawing your way out. This book had chronic pain rep as well and showed how other people can show up, even in small ways, for anyone dealing with a chronic illness. The author did a fantastic job with character depth and writing a believable love story.
I didn’t like the 3rd act conflict. I found it a little less believable that it would be quite this impactful to the characters. But, I recognize that people act and think differently than I would and, some people might actually react this way. So, maybe just saying the conflict was not one that I would have reacted in that same way as Thea. In that case, it made me connect a little less with the story.
The narrators were fantastic and I really enjoyed the Southern accent with Thea’s character.
I would recommend for fans of sapphic romances. There was very little spice but good character development. I plan to keep reading more by this author.
This story finds Thea moving to a small town to stay with her friend, Marshall. While there, Thea becomes enamored with a local bookshop worker, Courtney. Through books, foster animals, and night sky photographs, Courtney and Thea build a friendship and romance. But, Courtney’s past comes knocking…
What I enjoyed the most was the religious trauma rep. I really connected to Courtney’s stories of growing up, missing out on normal childhood development, and clawing your way out. This book had chronic pain rep as well and showed how other people can show up, even in small ways, for anyone dealing with a chronic illness. The author did a fantastic job with character depth and writing a believable love story.
I didn’t like the 3rd act conflict. I found it a little less believable that it would be quite this impactful to the characters. But, I recognize that people act and think differently than I would and, some people might actually react this way. So, maybe just saying the conflict was not one that I would have reacted in that same way as Thea. In that case, it made me connect a little less with the story.
The narrators were fantastic and I really enjoyed the Southern accent with Thea’s character.
I would recommend for fans of sapphic romances. There was very little spice but good character development. I plan to keep reading more by this author.
September 1, 2025
I truly liked the beginning of this book. I adored seeing how Courtney and Thea ended up in limbo in their lives around the same time which led to them ending up in the same Kansas small-town. I liked seeing Kansas portrayed in a positive light for once actually. Their backstories were really intriguing and I liked seeing them grow on their own--not because of the other person.
But this book lost me about 30-40% in because it got...boring. Once the main characters liked each other and KNEW the other liked them, the book became extremely cheesy in my opinion. And then they just had the same conversations/arguments over and over. There was also so much telling instead of showing with the physical part of their relationship. The emotional aspects were written so well, that I was sad the physical part of their relationship didn't work for me as a reader.
Basically--this book wasn't completely to my taste. Do I think it's a bad or poorly written book? Not at all. Pieces of it just didn't work for me.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
But this book lost me about 30-40% in because it got...boring. Once the main characters liked each other and KNEW the other liked them, the book became extremely cheesy in my opinion. And then they just had the same conversations/arguments over and over. There was also so much telling instead of showing with the physical part of their relationship. The emotional aspects were written so well, that I was sad the physical part of their relationship didn't work for me as a reader.
Basically--this book wasn't completely to my taste. Do I think it's a bad or poorly written book? Not at all. Pieces of it just didn't work for me.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2025
I devoured With Stars in Her Eyes! I was utterly charmed by its sincerity, warmth, and emotional depth. Andie Burke has yet again crafted a sapphic romance that feels like coming home: familiar, safe, yet pulsing with truth and longing.
•What worked
Courtney and Thea are richly drawn, flawed, brave. Courtney’s struggles with identity, career, chronic migraines, and her ex’s shadow are handled with compassion. Burke never shies away from the messiness of trauma, yet allows room for healing. Thea’s journey seeking fresh starts, setting boundaries, uncovering her own worth is equally powerful. Their voices remain distinct, their worries believable, and their strengths earned.
•Romance That Means Something
The slow burn here is slow in all the right ways. The “meet-cute” (a glorious mix of clumsy shelves, a rogue bearded dragon, and instant chemistry) immediately sets the tone: awkward but electric. Their path toward love isn’t clean or easy, but it never feels contrived. Shared lunches, whispered confessions, library nooks. The small, tender moments build up into something both hopeful and grounded.
•Themes
Burke juggles heavy topics including religious trauma, chronic illness, past heartbreak, and she does so with nuance. None of these feel like mere plot devices; they define who the characters are, shape their fears and desires, and make their victories all the more moving. But crucially, the book isn’t weighed down by them. Joy, found family, art, friendship, gentle humor all shine through!
•Final Verdict
With Stars in Her Eyes is one of those rare romances that leaves your heart both full and a little raw. Burke doesn’t settle for easy answers. She lets her characters feel, fail, and fight, not just for love, but for belonging, trust, and peace with themselves.
If you love sapphic romance, cozy settings, found family, heartfelt slowly-built connection, With Stars in Her Eyes is a book you will treasure. Highly, highly recommended.
Thank you to Andie Burke and her team for giving me the honor of enjoying this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving this review.
•What worked
Courtney and Thea are richly drawn, flawed, brave. Courtney’s struggles with identity, career, chronic migraines, and her ex’s shadow are handled with compassion. Burke never shies away from the messiness of trauma, yet allows room for healing. Thea’s journey seeking fresh starts, setting boundaries, uncovering her own worth is equally powerful. Their voices remain distinct, their worries believable, and their strengths earned.
•Romance That Means Something
The slow burn here is slow in all the right ways. The “meet-cute” (a glorious mix of clumsy shelves, a rogue bearded dragon, and instant chemistry) immediately sets the tone: awkward but electric. Their path toward love isn’t clean or easy, but it never feels contrived. Shared lunches, whispered confessions, library nooks. The small, tender moments build up into something both hopeful and grounded.
•Themes
Burke juggles heavy topics including religious trauma, chronic illness, past heartbreak, and she does so with nuance. None of these feel like mere plot devices; they define who the characters are, shape their fears and desires, and make their victories all the more moving. But crucially, the book isn’t weighed down by them. Joy, found family, art, friendship, gentle humor all shine through!
•Final Verdict
With Stars in Her Eyes is one of those rare romances that leaves your heart both full and a little raw. Burke doesn’t settle for easy answers. She lets her characters feel, fail, and fight, not just for love, but for belonging, trust, and peace with themselves.
If you love sapphic romance, cozy settings, found family, heartfelt slowly-built connection, With Stars in Her Eyes is a book you will treasure. Highly, highly recommended.
Thank you to Andie Burke and her team for giving me the honor of enjoying this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving this review.
September 2, 2025
I received my advance listener copy through the Libro.fm Librarian ALC program.
This had so much potential as a sapphic bookseller/piercer working at the tattoo shop next door meet cute, but the emotional build up just wasn't there? The characters are immediately incredibly attracted to each other during their very first conversation, which was confusing for me as a reader because it felt like the plot had nowhere to go. The characters felt like a collection of tropes and I think this has potential to be a quick, cozy autumn read for romance novel enthusiasts--it just wasn't my cup of tea (no matter how much I wanted to like it).
This had so much potential as a sapphic bookseller/piercer working at the tattoo shop next door meet cute, but the emotional build up just wasn't there? The characters are immediately incredibly attracted to each other during their very first conversation, which was confusing for me as a reader because it felt like the plot had nowhere to go. The characters felt like a collection of tropes and I think this has potential to be a quick, cozy autumn read for romance novel enthusiasts--it just wasn't my cup of tea (no matter how much I wanted to like it).
June 11, 2025
Thanks so much to St Martin’s Press for sending me this one! All views are my own. (Releases 9/16)
This was an EASY 5 stars for me. A bookstore and lesbians? I don’t think I need a damn thing else. Courtney and Thea’s love story is unconventional for the time we live in, as Courtney would say Thea lives in analog not digital. Thea has gotten her heart broken too many times and refuses to communicate via text when she’s getting to know someone. When she up and moves in with her best friend Marshall to start fresh in Kansas, she doesn’t anticipate meeting a cute girl with a pixie cut at the local bookstore however. Courtney has a lot of baggage and as Thea peels away her layers, she may have to come clean about who she really is so she and Thea can find their happily ever after.
Some reoccurring themes- religious trauma, chronic illness, sexuality and discovering yourself.
This book was wonderfully written, I love dual POV especially when it’s in first person. It was so easy to consume this book in 24 hours and it made me root for these two like they were my best friends. I laughed and cried and was thankful for my partner all in one sitting.
If you love sapphic romance with some spice, preorder this now!
This was an EASY 5 stars for me. A bookstore and lesbians? I don’t think I need a damn thing else. Courtney and Thea’s love story is unconventional for the time we live in, as Courtney would say Thea lives in analog not digital. Thea has gotten her heart broken too many times and refuses to communicate via text when she’s getting to know someone. When she up and moves in with her best friend Marshall to start fresh in Kansas, she doesn’t anticipate meeting a cute girl with a pixie cut at the local bookstore however. Courtney has a lot of baggage and as Thea peels away her layers, she may have to come clean about who she really is so she and Thea can find their happily ever after.
Some reoccurring themes- religious trauma, chronic illness, sexuality and discovering yourself.
This book was wonderfully written, I love dual POV especially when it’s in first person. It was so easy to consume this book in 24 hours and it made me root for these two like they were my best friends. I laughed and cried and was thankful for my partner all in one sitting.
If you love sapphic romance with some spice, preorder this now!
April 24, 2025
2.5 but I’m rounding up.
First, thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for the arc!
I’ll start by saying that the premise of the book was great. The potential is definitely there, but it was not executed in a way that worked for me. The beginning of the book was excruciatingly slow, and I had to push myself to continue.
I liked their little insta-love moment, and I loved how passionate they were about the things they loved.
I think that it was a little repetitive, and I think that I wasn’t as invested in their romance as I should have been.
First, thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for the arc!
I’ll start by saying that the premise of the book was great. The potential is definitely there, but it was not executed in a way that worked for me. The beginning of the book was excruciatingly slow, and I had to push myself to continue.
I liked their little insta-love moment, and I loved how passionate they were about the things they loved.
I think that it was a little repetitive, and I think that I wasn’t as invested in their romance as I should have been.
September 15, 2025
Courtney Starling had a music career that crashed and burned, so she escaped to work at her friend’s bookshop in Kansas where she can remain relatively unknown. Thea Quinn recently escaped family pressures from Alabama, and begins working at the tattoo shop next door. When Thea visits the bookshop, sparks instantly fly between Thea and Courtney. But the past never stays silent for long, and Courtney’s reignited cellist career can only stay hidden for so long…
This was such a fun audiobook, another favorite from Andie Burke! I loved the chemistry between Courtney and Thea; what can I say, I’m a sucker for any love story that starts in a book store! And with the binge-worthy narration of Chelsea Stephens and Natalie Naudus as the two main characters, this audiobook is quite the trifecta! I loved the small-town Kansas vibe, and there were even some shout outs to folks living with chronic illnesses (migraines). It’s endearing and witty, and the chemistry between Courtney and Thea is just as charming as a small town Kansan bookshop (#SmallTownRomance?). I’d recommend this to any fan of romance novels - and if you’ve never experienced the joys of Andie Burke's writing, it’s time to jump in!
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if you:
🎸 have always wanted a sapphic Hannah Montana - or just honestly followed the career trajectory of Miley Cyrus
🦅 aren’t really sure what a kestrel is
📚 love a bookshop meet-cute
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This was such a fun audiobook, another favorite from Andie Burke! I loved the chemistry between Courtney and Thea; what can I say, I’m a sucker for any love story that starts in a book store! And with the binge-worthy narration of Chelsea Stephens and Natalie Naudus as the two main characters, this audiobook is quite the trifecta! I loved the small-town Kansas vibe, and there were even some shout outs to folks living with chronic illnesses (migraines). It’s endearing and witty, and the chemistry between Courtney and Thea is just as charming as a small town Kansan bookshop (#SmallTownRomance?). I’d recommend this to any fan of romance novels - and if you’ve never experienced the joys of Andie Burke's writing, it’s time to jump in!
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if you:
🎸 have always wanted a sapphic Hannah Montana - or just honestly followed the career trajectory of Miley Cyrus
🦅 aren’t really sure what a kestrel is
📚 love a bookshop meet-cute
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
September 5, 2025
My god, this was so good! The yearning was top tier, and I can’t get over how sweet Courtney and Thea’s sandwich-and-soup dates were and the way Thea insisted on "analog dating".
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that made me swoon one moment and audibly giggle the next, all while leaving the biggest smile on my face. This is the perfect slow burn–just the right balance of flirting and longing without the frustration of characters refusing to acknowledge their feelings. I especially loved how refreshingly honest Courtney and Thea were about their emotions.
I also adored the way this story captured the art of photography and the power of music, weaving those elements into Courtney and Thea’s relationship alongside their charming bookish moments.
On a deeper level, I appreciated the exploration of religious trauma. While I do wish that thread had been developed further, it added meaningful context to Courtney’s background and motivations.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five-star read for me is the writing itself. As an ARC, I expected some issues, but the frequency of noticeable errors pulled me out of the story at times, having to figure out what the author meant or how the dialogue was intended to be written. I’m hopeful the final published version smooths these out, because the heart of this book is absolutely wonderful.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that made me swoon one moment and audibly giggle the next, all while leaving the biggest smile on my face. This is the perfect slow burn–just the right balance of flirting and longing without the frustration of characters refusing to acknowledge their feelings. I especially loved how refreshingly honest Courtney and Thea were about their emotions.
I also adored the way this story captured the art of photography and the power of music, weaving those elements into Courtney and Thea’s relationship alongside their charming bookish moments.
On a deeper level, I appreciated the exploration of religious trauma. While I do wish that thread had been developed further, it added meaningful context to Courtney’s background and motivations.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five-star read for me is the writing itself. As an ARC, I expected some issues, but the frequency of noticeable errors pulled me out of the story at times, having to figure out what the author meant or how the dialogue was intended to be written. I’m hopeful the final published version smooths these out, because the heart of this book is absolutely wonderful.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2025
I initially was really excited for this book, it has the ingredients for everything I love. It's sapphic, there is deconstruction from religious conservatism, book girlies. But then came the trauma rep, which I completely understand is unique to each person experiencing it. But I'm a trauma therapist, it's my area of specialty, and I'm an expert in my field. And it was completely irresponsible for the author to discuss Psilocybin as a treatment for PTSD, have the retired pharmacist give her pills and then have the character take them on her own. It does so much damage and spreads so much misinformation when you put something in a book like this that is the clear opposite of what should be done clinically, and medically. I have several colleagues who specialize in psychedelic assisted therapy for PTSD but NEVER in a million years would a psychiatrist just give someone Psilocybin and tell them it helps with PTSD, there are preparation sessions, then there is the medicinal sessions and the integration sessions. I'm incredibly frustrated to see this in a book as it has the potential to do so much harm. I'm a sensitivity reader who provides consultations for trauma, and therapy in books and this is the exact opposite of what should be published. Not to mention that you don't discuss the response.
Unrelated to that, I felt that the entire dynamic between Thea and her family was unresolved, which was a huge component of who she was and why she acted the way she was. All that to say, this could have been great and it fell so far from the mark as to land in problematic territory.
Unrelated to that, I felt that the entire dynamic between Thea and her family was unresolved, which was a huge component of who she was and why she acted the way she was. All that to say, this could have been great and it fell so far from the mark as to land in problematic territory.
September 18, 2025
Courtney Starling is working in her best friend’s bookshop in Kansas. She comes there to get away from her musical life but no one talks about that much. Thea Quinn is a new transplant to the town and works as a piercer in the tattoo shop next door. They have a hilarious meet cute. The two hit it off and begin as friends with very cute dialogues. And lots of fun book references, as one would expect in a book store romance. Where the story gets rougher is in their back stories. Courtney is actually a lifelong professional musician and is on the cusp of going to the next level. Thea’s background is more vague, she doesn’t feel seen by her family but is still close to them. And she can’t put up boundaries with her mother.
Somehow the debilitating migraines, extremely religious upbringing and horrible marriage that Courtney has gone through doesn’t mesh well into the story. I know from reading the notes from the author those topics are deeply personal to her. But it still needs to fit into the story. Either the rough topics needed more attention so they could be dealt with or less attention as it takes away from the romance. For me sharing small bits and pieces muddied up the story. And a couple of storylines seem to get dropped.
For the characters and witty banter I would rate this book higher. But because of how other things don’t mesh into the story well my rating dropped. I did want them to get their HEA. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Somehow the debilitating migraines, extremely religious upbringing and horrible marriage that Courtney has gone through doesn’t mesh well into the story. I know from reading the notes from the author those topics are deeply personal to her. But it still needs to fit into the story. Either the rough topics needed more attention so they could be dealt with or less attention as it takes away from the romance. For me sharing small bits and pieces muddied up the story. And a couple of storylines seem to get dropped.
For the characters and witty banter I would rate this book higher. But because of how other things don’t mesh into the story well my rating dropped. I did want them to get their HEA. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Read
September 9, 2025Courtney and Thea have a meet cute in the bookshop where Courtney works. Unbeknownst to Thea, Courtney has a secret – she is a rising musical star. Or at least she was, before a migraine attack during a big performance caused her to escape to this bookstore for a quieter life.
This novel features forced proximity (getting trapped in the bookstore by a storm), a historical romance book club, stargazing, and small-town vibes.
I appreciated that this novel explored important topics, such as religious trauma, abuse, and abortion. I would have loved to have seen the narrative delve into these topics even more deeply, as the discussion seemed vague at times.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advanced copy of this book!
Highlights:
- sapphic romance
- bookstore setting
- chronic illness rep (migraines)
- religious trauma
- secret identity
This novel features forced proximity (getting trapped in the bookstore by a storm), a historical romance book club, stargazing, and small-town vibes.
I appreciated that this novel explored important topics, such as religious trauma, abuse, and abortion. I would have loved to have seen the narrative delve into these topics even more deeply, as the discussion seemed vague at times.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advanced copy of this book!
Highlights:
- sapphic romance
- bookstore setting
- chronic illness rep (migraines)
- religious trauma
- secret identity
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