Seeing Stars

Mashad Family #2

by Candice Jalili

A spin-off story to the beloved Finding Famous, Candice Jalili is back with another story in the Mashad Family universe: a laugh-out-loud, larger-than-life YA romance that brings reality TV down to earth.

The tabloids wish they could give you gossip this jaw droppingly juicy…

Mona Mashad grew up on camera, with millions of fans around the world tuning in to see her every move. Nothing was off-limits: not her first pimple, her first crush, and definitely not the death of her father, Mashad family patriarch and the best dad ever, Ali.

After more than a decade on screen, Mona has discovered the key to being the most famous teenager on the planet: never let your guard down and never give your heart away (because if it breaks, the whole world will know).

But she didn’t expect to meet Lukas Haas, notorious heartthrob and only son of Jordana Haas, the beloved President of the United States. Lukas sweeps Mona off her feet—he literally saves her when she falls down the stairs at the Met Gala—and for just one second Mona wants to let her walls come down. So, it hurts a lot when he betrays her, and even more when their moms demand they pretend to keep dating to appease their respective fan bases.

Normally, a fake relationship would be manageable for Mona. After all, she's used to playing a part for the camera. But pretending to fall in love with Lukas when she's still furious with him is no easy feat. And things get extra complicated when she meets Kai. A (hot) surfer and all-around normal guy. For the first time in her life, she can forget the cameras and just be…Mona. Could he be the escape from this fake reality that Mona needs? Or will fake dating America’s most eligible bachelor lead to real feelings?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

416 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Candice Jalili is an Iranian American writer whose work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Cut, Rolling Stone, Elite Daily, and more. Candice lives in New York City with her husband, where she is a convenient walk away from her cousins and childhood best friend. She grew up in the Bay Area and spends hours of her days FaceTiming her parents there.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could sum up the reason for my rating pretty succinctly with the statement, "If you wanted me to root for the fake dating to become real dating, you shouldn't have gone so hard on the love interest being such a fuckboy," but I honestly think it's more complicated than that.

Every time Mona finds fault with Lucas' actions, it's because she's taking it as a personal insult—that he makes her look stupid, that he's hurting her brand, that he's careless of her as an individual. I, as the reader, on the other hand, saw it as a pattern of behavior. This dude says over and over again that Mona is his dream girl, that he admires her spunk and wants to be with her. And yet, he repeatedly does whatever the fuck he wants without regard for her feelings and well-being. That's not someone who's careless of Mona; that's someone who's careless of everyone except himself.

The fact that I am told that he's hot and he and Mona have great chemistry—even the fact that he and Mona have things in common, like their dead dads and their controlling and famous moms—is not enough to convince me that Lucas is a worthy romantic prospect. Nor is his protectiveness of her against outside threats...because, hate to break it to you, but that protectiveness only counts if it also protects her from being hurt by Lucas' bad behavior, too.

Kai may not be the right love interest either—famous people can't date non-famous people, yadda, yadda, whatever—but I like him as a person. I find his family and his history and his perspectives interesting. When he's on the page, I'm engaged. Anytime Lucas is on the page, though, I'm bracing for yet more gaslighting and yet more manipulation, not just from him toward Mona, but from the author toward her readers.

I do not buy that Lucas is a good guy. I do not buy that he'll change his behavior because she's the one. Mostly, I just think Mona got stuck with some Max Davenport readalike and doesn't know it yet, and all the reality TV-like hijinks and fun moments with Kai and Mona's family don't make up for the fact that I think she deserves better.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s little confessional sections (solo reaction time on the TV camera) that weren’t in the other book; these go tedious on audio as the book went on, although they did help further the plot along.
Mona got into Harvard to show that she is smart and not just ditzy party girl, but she doesn’t want to go
Fake dating for America not just the brands
Being famous for being yourself is weird
Lucas has hot boy privilege
Can’t believe she didn’t know that about Kai
Ending was abrupt.

[LeeAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear, I was not a fan.

I usually enjoy reality TV settings. I mean, I enjoy watching lots of these shows, so generally I like when these pop up in novels.

However, this one was so full of red flags, I put it down several times before finishing.

I've said frequently that I enjoy arranged marriage stories. I think this would have worked better if it had leaned more into the controlling moms and viewed this as an arranged situation instead of fake dating. Rated 1.5 stars bc I liked the mom aspect.

Mostly, though, I just didn't like either of the two main characters that end up together. There was a lot of gaslighting (so much worse than miscommunication). I just couldn't get past the blatant red flags into the happily ever after for either of them.

[Melody Strickland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ends up with the wrong guy…

[Richard Mcgowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really mixed feelings about Seeing Stars. The first book in this series, Finding Famous, set such a high bar for me that I went into this one expecting more of the same. Unfortunately, while there are things to enjoy here, it never quite reaches the standard of its predecessor.

One of the book's greatest strengths is the cast. Even though Josie doesn't get nearly enough page time this time around, my affection for her carried over from the first book, and it was nice to revisit the sisters and spend more time with characters I already knew and cared about.

That said, this book has some significant weaknesses. The most distracting for me was the constant use of brand and product names. There were so many references that at times it felt less like a novel and more like a giant product placement advertisement. Instead of helping ground the story in reality, they repeatedly pulled me out of it.

The plot also feels less focused than the first book. The story isn't as tightly constructed, and one side of the love triangle is resolved so quickly that it feels rushed and unsatisfying. I found myself wanting more development and a more natural payoff.

I was also surprised by Mona's characterization. If I'm remembering correctly, she had quite a foul mouth in the first book, but I don't recall a single curse word from her here. That may have been an editorial decision in response to feedback on the first novel, but it still stood out as a noticeable change.

Overall, Seeing Stars is perfectly fine. I enjoyed revisiting these characters, and there are definitely moments that work. However, it never captured the charm, focus, or emotional impact that made Finding Famous such a standout read for me. A solid 3.5-star book that gets rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads, but one that left me wishing it had lived up to the promise of the first installment.

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mashad family novels are becoming almost a guilty pleasure for me. I’m not a big reality TV fan, but I admit to wondering what it was like to grow up under the lights and cameras, to have your whole life on screen, And that’s what this series does. Jalili has created what is, basically, Iranian immigrant Kardashians, a large family of girls and their mom, who is holding the family empire together,

This book focuses on Mona. As the youngest (until their half sister Josie had been discovered), and often seen as a “Mess”, she is probably the most reality TV of the sisters, the one who’s life has been most onscreen, who the product she sells is her.

And now, she has to sell something very important-a relationship with the President’s son, Harvard athlete Lucas. Except that she’s not really all that fond of Lucas, who is a bit of a womanizer. And she does quite enjoy spending time with her friend/surfing instructor (and very handsome) Kai, who makes her feel normal, not like a reality TV show.

All told, this is an enjoyable book. There are some discussions of sexual relationships and alcohol use among teens, which parents may wish to be aware of, but overall this is an appropriate content level for teen readers…or adults who love a good train wreck with a happy ending.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to Disney Hyperion for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!**

I really enjoyed this book! I didn't realize it was book 2 in a series until I was too invested to stop reading, but I wouldn't have known this book wasn't a standalone. I was able to pick up all of the information and know all of the characters just fine without reading the first book.

The characters were super fun to read about, and they were all so unique and fun to read about. They were a little cliche, but I didn't mind. The romance was super cute and done well in my opinion. The plot was good, and it tore my heart out a little bit but put it back together at the end. The character arcs were also great. I took a star off because I felt like the plot was a little bit predictable, and the characters occasionally felt too one-dimensional in the traits that made them unique.

Overall, though, I had so much fun reading this book and would definitely recommend!

[Vanesa Gjolaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing Stars by Candice Jalili completely pulled me into Mona’s world and didn’t let go.

I loved how this story explored what it means to grow up in front of everyone while still trying to figure out who you really are. Mona was such a compelling character—strong and guarded, but also vulnerable beneath everything she’s been through. The fake dating storyline added so much tension and emotion, and I especially loved how the romance was layered with deeper themes of trust, identity, and freedom.

What stood out most was how emotional and real Mona’s journey felt. Watching her navigate fame, heartbreak, and the possibility of something genuine was beautiful and bittersweet.

This was such an addictive and heartfelt read that I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

- Vanesa Gjolaj, Author Of “The Enchanted Manuscript” & “A Court Of Drowning Promises”

[Aizah Monis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Seeing Stars and I can’t stop thinking about it. This book completely pulled me in—from the pacing, to the emotional depth, to the way everything just clicked. It’s the kind of story that’s equal parts fun, heartfelt, and totally addictive.

I usually don’t love love triangles, but this one was done so well—it felt real, layered, and made total sense. The characters were fully fleshed out and went through meaningful growth, especially the main character, who had such a strong and satisfying arc.

The writing felt effortless, and the little details sprinkled throughout gave the whole story a grounded, cinematic feel. I flew through it and didn’t want it to end.

Such a stunning novel—smart, emotional, and unforgettable. Highly recommend.

[Kate Peiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in 2 days! I could not put it down. The author did such an amazing job with character development and creating a love triangle where you struggled to decide who to root for! I previously read Finding Famous, the first book in the Mashad family novels, and enjoyed how this book stood alone but expanded on the original characters, especially a deeper dive into the mom. This book is such a fun read and would appeal to anyone who enjoys pop culture. I can see this book becoming a movie in the future.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and the first one were such fun books. They were fast, easy reads that hooked you from the beginning. The characters were easy to like, with more depth than I was expecting. And the story lines were deeper and more thought-provoking than I'd anticipated. Yes, I realize it wasn't a heavy hitter, but it's a fun "palate cleanser" in between more serious novels, and I'd read another one of Candice's books in a heartbeat!

[Erin McDonnell-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another recommendation from my niece! Not as good as the first but still enjoyable

[Sasha Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing Stars
a Mashad Family Novel
by Candice Jalili
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @Netgalley and Disney Hyperiod for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.


If you love fake dating and reality television like The Kardashians, The Hills, or Jersey Shore, this is a must-read for you.

Meet Mona Marshad, a girl most of the world already knows because she has grown up on television for the last 10 years.

I'm not a big fan of reality TV, but I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, and I read it all in one sitting! It takes the feelings of a teenage girl as she grows up and falls in love, and throws it all under a microscope. It absolutely paints a picture I never would have imagined from the perspective of the people who choose--or don't, as how could a child make that choice?--to live their lives for everyone to see? And, of course, dissect.

In this second book of the Mashad series, Mona Mashad is trying to discover who she is and what her next step will be. She wants more than anything to do something on her own and discovers the only way to find the support she requires to succeed is to be in a fake relationship with the president's son, Lucas. At the same time, she meets Kai, who is a boy she wants to spend time with because he makes her feel normal.

As expected in reality TV, witty banter, first-world problems, and drama ensue as Mona finds her way to her happy ending.

I will be finding more to read by this author.

[Kayla Plutzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much and I want more of these sisters!