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Liberty Grove University #1
Starstruck
Existing in the darkness sometimes means you’ll find the stars you didn’t know existed.
Goldie Moore has spent her life living out dreams that never belonged to her. After confronting her parents, who had pushed their fame-hungry desires onto her, she finally gets to live a life un-scripted. Now at Liberty Grove—the East Coast's most coveted college—Goldie is where she always knew she’d thrive. But living a life as precocious as hers, wandering through this hedge maze of adulthood, expectations, and love, proves more complicated than she imagined. When she crosses paths with Tristan Harper, the collision leaves her breathless. He’s the storm she didn’t prepare for—an undeniably magnetic indie rockstar haunted by bad decisions, wrong crowds, and a secret that weighs heavy on his heart.
Stuck at Liberty Grove, Tristan only has two goals: to find the man he used to be before the world knew who he was, and to make sure no one finds out the real reason he’s there. But keeping his past hidden becomes impossible when he meets Goldie, the girl who makes him feel seen in a way he didn’t know he craved.
When an offer is made to pretend to date each other to conceal both of the parts of themselves that they want to keep hidden, the lines between real life and the one they share in the shadows of Liberty Grove get pushed further into the darkness, making them wonder... can you ever fake love with a soul that burns just as brightly as your own?
Goldie Moore has spent her life living out dreams that never belonged to her. After confronting her parents, who had pushed their fame-hungry desires onto her, she finally gets to live a life un-scripted. Now at Liberty Grove—the East Coast's most coveted college—Goldie is where she always knew she’d thrive. But living a life as precocious as hers, wandering through this hedge maze of adulthood, expectations, and love, proves more complicated than she imagined. When she crosses paths with Tristan Harper, the collision leaves her breathless. He’s the storm she didn’t prepare for—an undeniably magnetic indie rockstar haunted by bad decisions, wrong crowds, and a secret that weighs heavy on his heart.
Stuck at Liberty Grove, Tristan only has two goals: to find the man he used to be before the world knew who he was, and to make sure no one finds out the real reason he’s there. But keeping his past hidden becomes impossible when he meets Goldie, the girl who makes him feel seen in a way he didn’t know he craved.
When an offer is made to pretend to date each other to conceal both of the parts of themselves that they want to keep hidden, the lines between real life and the one they share in the shadows of Liberty Grove get pushed further into the darkness, making them wonder... can you ever fake love with a soul that burns just as brightly as your own?
506 pages, Paperback
Published December 14, 2024
166 people are currently reading
2697 people want to read
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January 2, 2025This is super cozy and I love the vibes, the story is really cute and the characters are wonderful.
However, in my opinion, I really do just think it needs a thorough edit. And this is no disrespect to the author as I know being indie means so many more costs that you have to incur yourself. This is just my opinion and it affected the way I read the book.
The book switches between past and present tense from sentence to sentence which makes it quite hard to focus and means a lot doesn’t make sense. For example it switches from “pulled” to “slides” between two sentences to describe an action. A couple of lines later, the words “hold” and “open” are used, and in the same sentence “skated” and “caught” are used.
There’s also quite a bit of misuse of apostrophes…e.g. the FMC - Goldie - has a nickname which is written “Gold’s” instead of Golds, and some muddled up usages of its and it’s, your and you’re etc.
I think the writing sometimes feels a tiny bit too forced in its flowery-ness and less words would make it more genuine. Some of the metaphors or visual sentences don’t make sense which was upsetting because the writing really could be amazing.
I truly believe this is a lovely book but just needs some tweaks to land better with me, personally.
However, in my opinion, I really do just think it needs a thorough edit. And this is no disrespect to the author as I know being indie means so many more costs that you have to incur yourself. This is just my opinion and it affected the way I read the book.
The book switches between past and present tense from sentence to sentence which makes it quite hard to focus and means a lot doesn’t make sense. For example it switches from “pulled” to “slides” between two sentences to describe an action. A couple of lines later, the words “hold” and “open” are used, and in the same sentence “skated” and “caught” are used.
There’s also quite a bit of misuse of apostrophes…e.g. the FMC - Goldie - has a nickname which is written “Gold’s” instead of Golds, and some muddled up usages of its and it’s, your and you’re etc.
I think the writing sometimes feels a tiny bit too forced in its flowery-ness and less words would make it more genuine. Some of the metaphors or visual sentences don’t make sense which was upsetting because the writing really could be amazing.
I truly believe this is a lovely book but just needs some tweaks to land better with me, personally.
December 15, 2024
it was fine i guess
December 14, 2024
4.5/5⭐️
“She was a muse that I’d risk everything for, and yet, while that should have scared me should have made me break down like I had done by the fountain, it was like I’d never known what it was to be scared.”
this story follows goldie moore, who has spent her life living out various dreams that have never belonged to her. after finally confronting her parents, she gets to live a life away from the spotlight, at Liberty Grove, one of the east coast’s most coveted college. as she’s living her new life at liberty grove, wandering through the halls of the college on her first day , she stumbles across tristan harper, the new indie rockstar. tristan, only has two goals while at liberty grove, to figure out who he was before the world knew about him, and to ensure no one finds out the real reason he’s there. soon enough, goldie and tristan strike up a deal to fake date each to try to conceal parts of themselves they wanted to keep hidden, but as they continue to fake date, the relationship doesn’t feel as fake as it once was…
wow, this was my first book from this author, and the way she describes the setting, the characters and their emotions was absolutely incredible. i haven’t really read a book with a plot like this, and when i started reading this book, i absolutely ate it up. not only was the romance between tristan and goldie absolutely amazing, but both characters had incredible emotional depth, and it was really great to read how communicative they were with each other. the friendships in these books were also really good, especially between the girls, i loved every moment of their friendship. AND TRISTAN?! hello? he’s is SO FINE. get you a man who writes songs for you and calls you his muse. overall a really great read! def recommend!
“She was a muse that I’d risk everything for, and yet, while that should have scared me should have made me break down like I had done by the fountain, it was like I’d never known what it was to be scared.”
this story follows goldie moore, who has spent her life living out various dreams that have never belonged to her. after finally confronting her parents, she gets to live a life away from the spotlight, at Liberty Grove, one of the east coast’s most coveted college. as she’s living her new life at liberty grove, wandering through the halls of the college on her first day , she stumbles across tristan harper, the new indie rockstar. tristan, only has two goals while at liberty grove, to figure out who he was before the world knew about him, and to ensure no one finds out the real reason he’s there. soon enough, goldie and tristan strike up a deal to fake date each to try to conceal parts of themselves they wanted to keep hidden, but as they continue to fake date, the relationship doesn’t feel as fake as it once was…
wow, this was my first book from this author, and the way she describes the setting, the characters and their emotions was absolutely incredible. i haven’t really read a book with a plot like this, and when i started reading this book, i absolutely ate it up. not only was the romance between tristan and goldie absolutely amazing, but both characters had incredible emotional depth, and it was really great to read how communicative they were with each other. the friendships in these books were also really good, especially between the girls, i loved every moment of their friendship. AND TRISTAN?! hello? he’s is SO FINE. get you a man who writes songs for you and calls you his muse. overall a really great read! def recommend!
January 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ . 25
guys this book was SO CUTE!!! i am officially obsessed with rockstar romances, and will be taking alllll the recommendations 😌
the slow burn was BURNING in this book!! i usually am not the biggest fan of a super slow burn, but the author did an amazing job with it in this book! it felt necessary, and it made the scene where they finally get together soooo much better in my opinion. i loved the friend group in this book too!! truly some amazing found family vibes <3 i’m so glad this was my first read of the year!!
there were some grammatical errors in this book, but this was independently published so i don’t think its that big of a deal personally! still recommend <3
guys this book was SO CUTE!!! i am officially obsessed with rockstar romances, and will be taking alllll the recommendations 😌
the slow burn was BURNING in this book!! i usually am not the biggest fan of a super slow burn, but the author did an amazing job with it in this book! it felt necessary, and it made the scene where they finally get together soooo much better in my opinion. i loved the friend group in this book too!! truly some amazing found family vibes <3 i’m so glad this was my first read of the year!!
there were some grammatical errors in this book, but this was independently published so i don’t think its that big of a deal personally! still recommend <3
January 3, 2025
HOLLY YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN!
I literally beam with pride every time I read her books and I’ve only met her once!
I loved everything about Starstruck, I’d really been waiting for Goldie’s story and the Liberty Grove series.
Holly’s writing is just beautiful, all the dialogue that poured out of Tristan’s mouth about Goldie just made me want to cry.
It literally made me feel like I was watching Starstruck (2010) with sprinkles of McFly and it was just the best.
Definitely read this if you enjoy a fake dating trope (which I’m a sucker for).
So proud Holly <3
I literally beam with pride every time I read her books and I’ve only met her once!
I loved everything about Starstruck, I’d really been waiting for Goldie’s story and the Liberty Grove series.
Holly’s writing is just beautiful, all the dialogue that poured out of Tristan’s mouth about Goldie just made me want to cry.
It literally made me feel like I was watching Starstruck (2010) with sprinkles of McFly and it was just the best.
Definitely read this if you enjoy a fake dating trope (which I’m a sucker for).
So proud Holly <3
October 25, 2024
had the chance to read this beautiful book early—it has everything you could want in a mmc 🥹
November 23, 2025
This was almost a DNF. But I’m stubborn and rarely ever actually DNF a book even if it’s not good.
I know this is an indie author and I mean absolutely no harm in this review. I know the costs of what it takes to publish your work. It just really needed more editing.
The premise sounded fun and cute, but the book itself really could have and should have gone through some more editing. There were quite a few typos, over explanation of scenes or interactions, and felt more like a fanfic than a published novel. They are lots of metaphors used and flowery/lush sentences used that made it feel… not genuine.
Things I did like: the characters. Really enjoyable characters with interesting backgrounds/pasts!
I loved the university setting. You felt more of that in the first 15-20% of the book, but then it’s just known like it’s the setting, not a piece of the story. I would have loved more of the school life included in the story.
Overall, it was very… meh. Some of the reactions from someone’s certain dad or other characters were way too over the top and cringy. The way the book ended in the epilogue actually made me mad. Wouldn’t recommend unless you want a fanfic type of read with very cringy moments.
I know this is an indie author and I mean absolutely no harm in this review. I know the costs of what it takes to publish your work. It just really needed more editing.
The premise sounded fun and cute, but the book itself really could have and should have gone through some more editing. There were quite a few typos, over explanation of scenes or interactions, and felt more like a fanfic than a published novel. They are lots of metaphors used and flowery/lush sentences used that made it feel… not genuine.
Things I did like: the characters. Really enjoyable characters with interesting backgrounds/pasts!
I loved the university setting. You felt more of that in the first 15-20% of the book, but then it’s just known like it’s the setting, not a piece of the story. I would have loved more of the school life included in the story.
Overall, it was very… meh. Some of the reactions from someone’s certain dad or other characters were way too over the top and cringy. The way the book ended in the epilogue actually made me mad. Wouldn’t recommend unless you want a fanfic type of read with very cringy moments.
December 16, 2024
Starstruck by Holly Jukes
4/5⭐
0,5/5🌶️
"Seeing you reminds me that home isn't a place; it's a person, and everytime I find you, I feel like I'm walking up the path to my front door."
This is my first book by this author, and I loved it! It's been a while since I read an easy, comforting story, and this book truly delivers. It was such a sweet, heartwarming read with lovely characters. I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and the strong bond of friendship depicted throughout the story.
Tristan is a famous rockstar from England with a dark past. He enrolls at Liberty Grove University in New York to reorganize his life and focus on himself, intending for this to be a temporary situation. He plans to keep a low profile and concentrate on his music, without making friends or falling in love. However, everything changes when he meets Goldie. Goldie has been a famous actress since childhood, but she is unhappy and only continues acting due to her parents' expectations. One day, she tells her parents that she wants to stop acting and pursue something she truly loves. She enrolls at Liberty Grove University, majoring in psychology, which turns out to be the same major as Tristan’s.
Oh my goodness, my heart truly ached for Tristan while I was reading this book! I just wanted to give him the biggest hug and tell him that he's an amazing person who deserves all the happiness in the world. Goldie is such a bright light in his life—she’s like a ray of sunshine with the purest heart! I found Tristan and Goldie to be relatable, and I felt every bit of their happiness, sadness, anger, and heartbreak. Their love story is so sweet and genuine; it warmed my heart. Even though it's a slow-burn romance without any steamy scenes, it's beautiful to watch their relationship develop. And can we talk about the side characters? They're fantastic! I loved the moments when they all spent time together. Each character has a unique personality, and I can’t wait to dive into their stories in the future. Oh, and those last few pages? Total heartbreaker! I didn’t see that coming at all, which has me even more excited for the next book!
If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good read with a love story that’ll wrap you in warmth, definitely give this book a shot. Huge thanks to Holly Jukes for the gifted eARC! I’m so glad I took a chance on it. Honestly, I was drawn in by the adorable cover, but I ended up falling in love with these characters!
"She was a muse that I'd risk everything for."
"I'd never craved other things like I craved her."
4/5⭐
0,5/5🌶️
"Seeing you reminds me that home isn't a place; it's a person, and everytime I find you, I feel like I'm walking up the path to my front door."
This is my first book by this author, and I loved it! It's been a while since I read an easy, comforting story, and this book truly delivers. It was such a sweet, heartwarming read with lovely characters. I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and the strong bond of friendship depicted throughout the story.
Tristan is a famous rockstar from England with a dark past. He enrolls at Liberty Grove University in New York to reorganize his life and focus on himself, intending for this to be a temporary situation. He plans to keep a low profile and concentrate on his music, without making friends or falling in love. However, everything changes when he meets Goldie. Goldie has been a famous actress since childhood, but she is unhappy and only continues acting due to her parents' expectations. One day, she tells her parents that she wants to stop acting and pursue something she truly loves. She enrolls at Liberty Grove University, majoring in psychology, which turns out to be the same major as Tristan’s.
Oh my goodness, my heart truly ached for Tristan while I was reading this book! I just wanted to give him the biggest hug and tell him that he's an amazing person who deserves all the happiness in the world. Goldie is such a bright light in his life—she’s like a ray of sunshine with the purest heart! I found Tristan and Goldie to be relatable, and I felt every bit of their happiness, sadness, anger, and heartbreak. Their love story is so sweet and genuine; it warmed my heart. Even though it's a slow-burn romance without any steamy scenes, it's beautiful to watch their relationship develop. And can we talk about the side characters? They're fantastic! I loved the moments when they all spent time together. Each character has a unique personality, and I can’t wait to dive into their stories in the future. Oh, and those last few pages? Total heartbreaker! I didn’t see that coming at all, which has me even more excited for the next book!
If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good read with a love story that’ll wrap you in warmth, definitely give this book a shot. Huge thanks to Holly Jukes for the gifted eARC! I’m so glad I took a chance on it. Honestly, I was drawn in by the adorable cover, but I ended up falling in love with these characters!
"She was a muse that I'd risk everything for."
"I'd never craved other things like I craved her."
December 5, 2024
4⭐️
This was my first book by holly and it was so beautiful and heartwarming. I absolutely loved the writing.
And I would like to kindly request holly to pay my therapy bill for how much she made me cry during chapter 34-40👩🏻🦯
I am in love with this story. I was in a slump before so I was having a hard time with all my previous reads but this one snatched me back from there. Honestly first 10% was a little slow for me but after that it just got better and better. It had me giggling, blushing and kicking my feet the whole time. It was so cute, soft and wholesome read with my favourite‘found family’ trope🥺🫶🏻 This book is the story of self love, ride & die Friendships and finding that all consuming love.
Let’s talk about our Main characters,
Tristan freaking Harper the man you are😩🦋A rockstar with British accent who is an absolute softie, yes sign me up for it!!! I WANT HIM TO BE REAL😭
and then we have our sunshine girl Goldie, this girl is so kind, caring and forgiving. I want to be her when I grow up(I am literally older than her💀) The way she saw the real Tristan and stood by him throughout had my heart melting.
I loved their chemistry and relationship so much, I want what they have🥺🫶🏻 and pls the nicknames Gold’s and sunshine…. I was a poodle on floor everytime Tristan called her Gold’s. Tbh I was feral over everything he called her(Marigold, gold’s , sunshine, Darling) in that gravely British accent🫠
I loved the whole book but the 2nd half was chef’s kiss🫶🏻🥺 This book is as beautiful from inside as it is from outside(pls look at that cover)
AND THE WAY IT ENDED?????
I need Rory’s book ASAP😭
This was my first book by holly and it was so beautiful and heartwarming. I absolutely loved the writing.
And I would like to kindly request holly to pay my therapy bill for how much she made me cry during chapter 34-40👩🏻🦯
I am in love with this story. I was in a slump before so I was having a hard time with all my previous reads but this one snatched me back from there. Honestly first 10% was a little slow for me but after that it just got better and better. It had me giggling, blushing and kicking my feet the whole time. It was so cute, soft and wholesome read with my favourite‘found family’ trope🥺🫶🏻 This book is the story of self love, ride & die Friendships and finding that all consuming love.
Let’s talk about our Main characters,
Tristan freaking Harper the man you are😩🦋A rockstar with British accent who is an absolute softie, yes sign me up for it!!! I WANT HIM TO BE REAL😭
and then we have our sunshine girl Goldie, this girl is so kind, caring and forgiving. I want to be her when I grow up(I am literally older than her💀) The way she saw the real Tristan and stood by him throughout had my heart melting.
I loved their chemistry and relationship so much, I want what they have🥺🫶🏻 and pls the nicknames Gold’s and sunshine…. I was a poodle on floor everytime Tristan called her Gold’s. Tbh I was feral over everything he called her(Marigold, gold’s , sunshine, Darling) in that gravely British accent🫠
I loved the whole book but the 2nd half was chef’s kiss🫶🏻🥺 This book is as beautiful from inside as it is from outside(pls look at that cover)
AND THE WAY IT ENDED?????
I need Rory’s book ASAP😭
January 28, 2025
2.75 🌟
I loved the story in this but sadly it was ruined by a lack of edits and a somewhat amateur writing style. The general consensus of the story was really sweet, and it was a cute love story, but the constant grammatical errors made it difficult to enjoy thoroughly. The main character’s nickname was “Golds”, written as “Gold’s” the whole time, and I counted at least 8 instances of “you’re and your” used incorrectly. I also found parts of the storyline a bit unbelievable, and some character development lacking. Also, the way British accents were written was not enjoyable!
However I don’t want to sound mean, it was a lovely story, just could have been executed much better.
I loved the story in this but sadly it was ruined by a lack of edits and a somewhat amateur writing style. The general consensus of the story was really sweet, and it was a cute love story, but the constant grammatical errors made it difficult to enjoy thoroughly. The main character’s nickname was “Golds”, written as “Gold’s” the whole time, and I counted at least 8 instances of “you’re and your” used incorrectly. I also found parts of the storyline a bit unbelievable, and some character development lacking. Also, the way British accents were written was not enjoyable!
However I don’t want to sound mean, it was a lovely story, just could have been executed much better.
December 17, 2024
Starstruck ARC Review
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Starstruck by Holly Jukes. All opinions are my own and given freely. 💛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5
content warning: drug use (in flashbacks), mentions of drug abuse (in flashbacks), strong language, scenes for readers 18 and over, anxiety and depression talks
“for what it’s worth, i think everything i feel for you goes beyond just loving you. seeing you reminds me that home isn’t a place; it’s a person, and every time i find you, i feel like i’m walking up the path to my front door.”
this book deserves all the stars!! i fell absolutely in love with this book and its characters (except henry!!!!). holly truly has a beautiful way of writing her characters that makes you fall in love with them immediately. starstruck is both a love story and a story of self- discovery. and holly did such an amazing job of balancing both the romance and self-discovery aspects of the story. i didn't want this book to ever end, and it's easily one of my favorite reads this year. i will forever be obsessed with anything and everything holly writes! and i cannot wait for everyone else to fall in love with this story as much as i did!
goldie and tristan, my sweet angel babies, they mean everything to me!!! goldie is the most sunshiny girl ever and tristan is just the sweetest guy ever! their chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning, and their fake-dating arrangement brought all the tension, swoon-worthy moments, and heartbreak i could ever ask for. getting to see the growth both of them went through and how they opened up with each other was beautiful.
these two will forever hold a special place in my heart. they truly were meant for each other!
i will now be waiting not so patiently for rory and finn’s story!!! once again thank you so much for giving me the chance to starstruck early! 💛
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Starstruck by Holly Jukes. All opinions are my own and given freely. 💛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5
content warning: drug use (in flashbacks), mentions of drug abuse (in flashbacks), strong language, scenes for readers 18 and over, anxiety and depression talks
“for what it’s worth, i think everything i feel for you goes beyond just loving you. seeing you reminds me that home isn’t a place; it’s a person, and every time i find you, i feel like i’m walking up the path to my front door.”
this book deserves all the stars!! i fell absolutely in love with this book and its characters (except henry!!!!). holly truly has a beautiful way of writing her characters that makes you fall in love with them immediately. starstruck is both a love story and a story of self- discovery. and holly did such an amazing job of balancing both the romance and self-discovery aspects of the story. i didn't want this book to ever end, and it's easily one of my favorite reads this year. i will forever be obsessed with anything and everything holly writes! and i cannot wait for everyone else to fall in love with this story as much as i did!
goldie and tristan, my sweet angel babies, they mean everything to me!!! goldie is the most sunshiny girl ever and tristan is just the sweetest guy ever! their chemistry was undeniable from the very beginning, and their fake-dating arrangement brought all the tension, swoon-worthy moments, and heartbreak i could ever ask for. getting to see the growth both of them went through and how they opened up with each other was beautiful.
these two will forever hold a special place in my heart. they truly were meant for each other!
i will now be waiting not so patiently for rory and finn’s story!!! once again thank you so much for giving me the chance to starstruck early! 💛
December 15, 2024
✨️spoiler free✨️ arc-review
📚: starstruck(arc) by Holly Jukes — releasing Dec 14th
my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
aesthetic: ✨📖🎸🎭🖤🌌🎶🌹💔🌟🏛️🌿
tropes: fake dating, college romance, bad boy X sunshine girl, found family, strangers to lovers, secrets, she falls first but he falls harder, he's english, she's american, banter, he calls her 'sunshine' (with the english accent)
I can’t stop thinking about Goldie and Tristan’s story—it was everything I didn’t know I needed! Goldie’s journey of breaking free from her parents’ fame-driven expectations and finding herself felt so raw and relatable. Her growth throughout the story was inspiring, and her time at Liberty Grove felt like such a perfect mix of chaos, discovery, and love.
And Tristan Harper? He’s the kind of indie rockstar you can’t help but fall for—mysterious, wounded, and full of surprises. His past weighed on him so heavily, but the way he opened up to Goldie felt so real and tender. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their fake-dating arrangement brought all the tension, swoon-worthy moments, and heartbreak I could ask for.
The author perfectly balanced romance, self-discovery, and the weight of secrets. It’s a story of finding yourself, healing from the past, and falling for someone who truly sees you. I didn’t want it to end, and it’s easily one of my favorite reads this year. If you love stories with deep characters, emotional depth, and a romance that burns bright, this one is for you!
📚: starstruck(arc) by Holly Jukes — releasing Dec 14th
my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
aesthetic: ✨📖🎸🎭🖤🌌🎶🌹💔🌟🏛️🌿
tropes: fake dating, college romance, bad boy X sunshine girl, found family, strangers to lovers, secrets, she falls first but he falls harder, he's english, she's american, banter, he calls her 'sunshine' (with the english accent)
I can’t stop thinking about Goldie and Tristan’s story—it was everything I didn’t know I needed! Goldie’s journey of breaking free from her parents’ fame-driven expectations and finding herself felt so raw and relatable. Her growth throughout the story was inspiring, and her time at Liberty Grove felt like such a perfect mix of chaos, discovery, and love.
And Tristan Harper? He’s the kind of indie rockstar you can’t help but fall for—mysterious, wounded, and full of surprises. His past weighed on him so heavily, but the way he opened up to Goldie felt so real and tender. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their fake-dating arrangement brought all the tension, swoon-worthy moments, and heartbreak I could ask for.
The author perfectly balanced romance, self-discovery, and the weight of secrets. It’s a story of finding yourself, healing from the past, and falling for someone who truly sees you. I didn’t want it to end, and it’s easily one of my favorite reads this year. If you love stories with deep characters, emotional depth, and a romance that burns bright, this one is for you!
January 7, 2025
arc review
rating: 5 stars ✨🥺♾️
this was such a fun read! i can’t believe this is my first book by the author because it was sooo good omg and i need to read everything she’s ever released! the story was written beautifully. i loved every single character in that friendship group. it definitely have a touch of found family which i absolutely love!
this story follows goldie who has spent her life following everyone else’s decisions for her and being a child actor she never got to experience school like she wanted. on her first day at school, finally getting what she wanted, she meets tristan harper. a british indie singer who also has just started to attend liberty grove. his only goal is to keep his secret and to get out of liberty grove but things change when he meets goldie and ahhh i was floored by the cuteness of these two!! 🥹 they were just trying to navigate this new stage in their lives and didn’t realise they didn’t each other until the fake dating started and ahh there were so many cute moments between them!!!
there was a perfect balance of everything you need from this story - from the friendships, the romance, the character developments and the swoon worthy moments! loved every second of this 🫶🏻
read this if you love:
☀️ grumpy x sunshine
☀️ fake dating
☀️ found family
an amazing start to the series i can’t wait to read more! also gorgeous cover!
thank you holly for the chance to read this arc 🫶🏻
rating: 5 stars ✨🥺♾️
this was such a fun read! i can’t believe this is my first book by the author because it was sooo good omg and i need to read everything she’s ever released! the story was written beautifully. i loved every single character in that friendship group. it definitely have a touch of found family which i absolutely love!
this story follows goldie who has spent her life following everyone else’s decisions for her and being a child actor she never got to experience school like she wanted. on her first day at school, finally getting what she wanted, she meets tristan harper. a british indie singer who also has just started to attend liberty grove. his only goal is to keep his secret and to get out of liberty grove but things change when he meets goldie and ahhh i was floored by the cuteness of these two!! 🥹 they were just trying to navigate this new stage in their lives and didn’t realise they didn’t each other until the fake dating started and ahh there were so many cute moments between them!!!
there was a perfect balance of everything you need from this story - from the friendships, the romance, the character developments and the swoon worthy moments! loved every second of this 🫶🏻
read this if you love:
☀️ grumpy x sunshine
☀️ fake dating
☀️ found family
an amazing start to the series i can’t wait to read more! also gorgeous cover!
thank you holly for the chance to read this arc 🫶🏻
December 16, 2024
arc review 🌼
4.5 ⭐️
this being my first book by the author holly and it being such an amazing book to start a series that i KNOW will be a favorite was just 😙🤌🏼 the way everything was written just makes this story so unique & beautiful 🤍
tristan, my man, harper 😙🤏🏼 literally everything he did made me fall in love with him 🤭 i’m telling you this man is the book boyfriend dream!! not only is he a rockstar 👀 but a cutie who literally had lyrics coming to his head just by looking at goldie, but also wrote songs about her 😆😆
goldie, my favorite sunshine girl ☺️ i love how kind & caring this girl really is! i wish she was real so she can be my friend 😭 gold’s the girl who will put her all in relationships and if you mess with that, you can expect for her to forgive but not forget 😌
tristan & goldie 💛 when it comes to these too, the first thing that pops into my mind is how whenever someone starts dating you always hear how they are trying to find their forever best friend! a best friend who will love and cherish them!! this is exactly what tristan and goldie found 🥰 both of them going through their own struggles, going to liberty for a fresh start at their new lives not knowing that they would find their new start in each other
the love they have, is the type of love i wish finds me 🥹🫶🏼
4.5 ⭐️
this being my first book by the author holly and it being such an amazing book to start a series that i KNOW will be a favorite was just 😙🤌🏼 the way everything was written just makes this story so unique & beautiful 🤍
tristan, my man, harper 😙🤏🏼 literally everything he did made me fall in love with him 🤭 i’m telling you this man is the book boyfriend dream!! not only is he a rockstar 👀 but a cutie who literally had lyrics coming to his head just by looking at goldie, but also wrote songs about her 😆😆
goldie, my favorite sunshine girl ☺️ i love how kind & caring this girl really is! i wish she was real so she can be my friend 😭 gold’s the girl who will put her all in relationships and if you mess with that, you can expect for her to forgive but not forget 😌
tristan & goldie 💛 when it comes to these too, the first thing that pops into my mind is how whenever someone starts dating you always hear how they are trying to find their forever best friend! a best friend who will love and cherish them!! this is exactly what tristan and goldie found 🥰 both of them going through their own struggles, going to liberty for a fresh start at their new lives not knowing that they would find their new start in each other
the love they have, is the type of love i wish finds me 🥹🫶🏼
January 10, 2025
Arc Review!!! 💫🤍💌
(Sorry it’s so late 😭)
Starstruck is the first book I’ve read from this author and I absolutely loved it! It was such an easy and heartwarming read. I fell in love with the characters and storyline instantly.
There were elements to the plot that I wasn’t expecting and there were times I felt such a deep connection to the characters. I am absolutely obsessed with Goldie and Tristan, the way they connected with each other was so palpable and ahhhh I just love them so much. They’re both so young, and have had to grow up quickly, but that only makes them stronger which I really admired. Found family is a trope I adore and I think I screamed a little bit when I saw that this book was going to have it. The friendship group in Starstruck is definitely one of my favourite parts of this book and I cannot wait for each character to get their own story. Each little bit of information we got for the characters got me even more excited for future Liberty Grove books, but I think Tristan and Goldie were the perfect way to start this series off 💫💐🪩🫶🏻
(Sorry it’s so late 😭)
Starstruck is the first book I’ve read from this author and I absolutely loved it! It was such an easy and heartwarming read. I fell in love with the characters and storyline instantly.
There were elements to the plot that I wasn’t expecting and there were times I felt such a deep connection to the characters. I am absolutely obsessed with Goldie and Tristan, the way they connected with each other was so palpable and ahhhh I just love them so much. They’re both so young, and have had to grow up quickly, but that only makes them stronger which I really admired. Found family is a trope I adore and I think I screamed a little bit when I saw that this book was going to have it. The friendship group in Starstruck is definitely one of my favourite parts of this book and I cannot wait for each character to get their own story. Each little bit of information we got for the characters got me even more excited for future Liberty Grove books, but I think Tristan and Goldie were the perfect way to start this series off 💫💐🪩🫶🏻
January 6, 2025
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!
Tristan is just everything, the character development for Tristan and Goldie are what make this book such a magical journey.
The references to mcfly made my little galaxy defending heart BURST but that was not the reason I fell in love with the team. The love this group have for each other is wonderful to read, the fact that they would all be there at a drop of a hat is everything to me.
I’m always here to root for the underdog and Henry sir, you are not that guy! I have never wanted to scream at a character more than I did Henry. That being said, every character written into this story held a strong purpose and I loved watching the story pan out. The last 15 chapters were everything, I was HOOKED!
The way Tristan loves in silence is everything, the stolen glances, the knowing comments from the girls and the guys, the songs, he is just everything you could want in a MMC and more.
Holly I don’t know what you sprinkled on this book but KEEP IT COMING 😭💓
Tristan is just everything, the character development for Tristan and Goldie are what make this book such a magical journey.
The references to mcfly made my little galaxy defending heart BURST but that was not the reason I fell in love with the team. The love this group have for each other is wonderful to read, the fact that they would all be there at a drop of a hat is everything to me.
I’m always here to root for the underdog and Henry sir, you are not that guy! I have never wanted to scream at a character more than I did Henry. That being said, every character written into this story held a strong purpose and I loved watching the story pan out. The last 15 chapters were everything, I was HOOKED!
The way Tristan loves in silence is everything, the stolen glances, the knowing comments from the girls and the guys, the songs, he is just everything you could want in a MMC and more.
Holly I don’t know what you sprinkled on this book but KEEP IT COMING 😭💓
June 19, 2025
4.5*! I was recommended this book by a friend and I’m SO glad I read it. I’ve wanted to read a book for ages that has yearning and doesn’t feel like the characters just get together, and I was not disappointed
starstruck is a slow burn x fake dating romance that follows goldie as she starts to forge a life that truly belongs to her
I really enjoyed reading starstruck and I’m looking forward to what holly has set up for the series following rory, daisy and cora <3
my only criticism (which is no criticism to the book itself) is that I felt like the story was almost spoiled because I knew every trope before going into the book because of tiktok. I love knowing what story it will be (enemies to lovers, second chance etc.) but knowing everything beforehand meant nothing was a surprise
starstruck is a slow burn x fake dating romance that follows goldie as she starts to forge a life that truly belongs to her
I really enjoyed reading starstruck and I’m looking forward to what holly has set up for the series following rory, daisy and cora <3
my only criticism (which is no criticism to the book itself) is that I felt like the story was almost spoiled because I knew every trope before going into the book because of tiktok. I love knowing what story it will be (enemies to lovers, second chance etc.) but knowing everything beforehand meant nothing was a surprise
December 28, 2024
4.5 ⭐
“why don’t we trade? when something’s on our mind, no matter what is it, we swap daydreams’”
I am so angry for not reading this sooner. I got the arc pretty soon before the release date and wish wish I’d got it before now because I loved it and I am SO excited for the rest of the series.
The most sunshine FMC I’ve read all year and the rockstar vibes took me right back to my fangirl days in the most satisfying, nostalgic way.
This is a couple that were meant to find each other and I loved watching them figure that out. Definitely some slow-burn elements and the found family is something I cannot wait to see more of in the rest of the series.
“why don’t we trade? when something’s on our mind, no matter what is it, we swap daydreams’”
I am so angry for not reading this sooner. I got the arc pretty soon before the release date and wish wish I’d got it before now because I loved it and I am SO excited for the rest of the series.
The most sunshine FMC I’ve read all year and the rockstar vibes took me right back to my fangirl days in the most satisfying, nostalgic way.
This is a couple that were meant to find each other and I loved watching them figure that out. Definitely some slow-burn elements and the found family is something I cannot wait to see more of in the rest of the series.
October 25, 2024
i will never stop thinking about this book. oh my god, it was perfect.
November 20, 2024
guys i loved this so bad!!!! tristan ugh new bf unlocked!!!!!!! goldie!! sunshine girl!!!!! thank you so much holly for the arc! <3
January 3, 2025
“I wrote another song about Goldie Moore tonight. I was in two minds whether it set it alight or put it as the title track to my album.”
January 11, 2025
I LOVE TRISTAN HARPER 🖤🎸🔥⭐️🪩🤩
October 25, 2025
Just so many grammatical errors I couldn’t look past idk. Also I just hated the dialogue tbh.
April 6, 2025
I loved this book but there was no proofreading. There were spelling and grammatical errors as well as points where you could tell the author deleted their sentence and restarted. Definitely needs a round of editing.
June 28, 2025
I think I’m just too old for this book (and the amount of typos was shocking)
December 21, 2024
*3.5*
December 19, 2024
Interesting premise with a lot of characters.
December 9, 2024
4.25 ✨
this was the cutest book and honestly it helped get me out of my slump. once i sat down and started reading i couldn’t stop. i can’t lie i am kinda obsessed with tristan 🥲 i knew i would be but he was just the most precious sad boy of my dreams 🥹 i loved the fake dating, it’s one of my favorite tropes and I love that it was for a bit of convenience. both characters had really interesting storylines and experienced great development. i also loved getting to see bits of the other stories getting set up for the series!! even if i know they’re going to absolutely break my heart when i read them😭 goldie and tristan are definitely soulmates and i love how caring their love is, they really get each other and their connection is so genuine and pure. henry is a troll 👹 can’t stand him lol
this was a really sweet romance with a found family to fall in love with and characters who are just the cutest. i highly recommend 🤍 also im still obsessed with this cover !!!!
this was the cutest book and honestly it helped get me out of my slump. once i sat down and started reading i couldn’t stop. i can’t lie i am kinda obsessed with tristan 🥲 i knew i would be but he was just the most precious sad boy of my dreams 🥹 i loved the fake dating, it’s one of my favorite tropes and I love that it was for a bit of convenience. both characters had really interesting storylines and experienced great development. i also loved getting to see bits of the other stories getting set up for the series!! even if i know they’re going to absolutely break my heart when i read them😭 goldie and tristan are definitely soulmates and i love how caring their love is, they really get each other and their connection is so genuine and pure. henry is a troll 👹 can’t stand him lol
this was a really sweet romance with a found family to fall in love with and characters who are just the cutest. i highly recommend 🤍 also im still obsessed with this cover !!!!
December 14, 2024
arc review!
— 4 stars
i’m so grateful to have gotten the arc of this book! i was so excited to read about goldie after falling in love with her in ‘the fate of us’. i absolutely adore her. seeing her become her own person and make her own decisions after watching her parents dictate her life in tfou was so heartwarming. oh tristan, my boy :( his backstory broke my heart. i loved watching tristan and goldie’s relationship grow. they healed each others inner childs and it was beautiful to read about :’)
i love their found family so so much, i cannot wait for book 2!!
— 4 stars
i’m so grateful to have gotten the arc of this book! i was so excited to read about goldie after falling in love with her in ‘the fate of us’. i absolutely adore her. seeing her become her own person and make her own decisions after watching her parents dictate her life in tfou was so heartwarming. oh tristan, my boy :( his backstory broke my heart. i loved watching tristan and goldie’s relationship grow. they healed each others inner childs and it was beautiful to read about :’)
i love their found family so so much, i cannot wait for book 2!!
December 12, 2024
Such a lovely story and Tristan was such a dreamy MMC. I loved the way the story developed and the friendships and relationships were all so wholesome! I can’t wait for the next one!
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