Starstruck

Starstruck #1

by S.E. Anderson

After an incident with a hot-air balloon causes college-dropout Sally Webber to lose her job, she sets off to find direction in her life. Crashing into a teleporting alien, however, is not on her to-do list.

Now she’s on the run from TV-drama-loving aliens, and things are just getting started. Zander won’t stop reeling her into life-or-death situations to save her planet, as he waits for his laser-wielding sister to search the universe for him. Though Sally isn’t quite sure if he wants to save Earth from annihilation, or just quell his curiosity of all things human.

Sally's got to find lost alien emissaries, as well as a job, and stop the planet from getting incinerated in the process. But with Zander as her roommate, what could possibly go wrong?


"S.E. Anderson's debut is a hilarious galactic romp with loving nods to Hitch Hiker's Guide to Galaxy but with a voice all its own.

It's quirky, fun, and utterly enjoyable."

~Dragon Award-nominated author, R.R. Virdi of The Grave Report and The Books of Winter.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Science Fiction Romance, Aliens

495 pages, ebook

Published May 4, 2017

About the author

S.E. ANDERSON, PhD, is the author of the YA science fiction humor series THE STARSTRUCK SAGA and OVER THE MOON, as well as a YA contemporary novel, AIX MARKS THE SPOT, based on her childhood in Provence.

During the day, she's an astrophysics researcher and studies what comets can tell us about the formation of the Solar System. She currently lives in Marseille, France, where she is currently trying to wrangle some comets, her cats, and her husband.

Reviews

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-stars for any book that I can't put down, so this one should probably have 6--and not because I'm her mom, let that be clear! This was an all-out, fast and furious, funny and fun read; all too rare these days, and all the more enjoyable for it.

Come to think of it, I ought to give her 4 stars, because she grew up in the French school system, where No One EVER gets a 20/20 lest it go to his head. Besides, I know that this one pales in comparison for what's on the horizon. My biggest miff is that our star character is rather limited in her expletives. It's my opinion that cussings are for those of limited vocabulary, so I trust that Sally becomes more originative as she encounters more character-building experiences.

A few other reviewers seem to get hung up on the sexuality of the characters, which is fine for them. But keep in mind, those of you who read reviews to decide whether to explore a book for yourself, they are projecting their own gender bias, confusion, whatever. I appreciate Sarah's delivery of personal interactions without sexual forcefulness; the characters are male and female, alien and terrain, looking for attachments and contented in self-awareness. In other words, they are people, much like us, and out-of-this-world different, and isn't that why we love to read, after all?

Watching her through this 7-year process gave me a stellar insider's view. Okay, so I've not been 100% supportive--I mean, seriously, pick up after yourself, girl! Writing an entire book series is no excuse. Do you think Mom's got her head over the keyboard playing Angry Birds? I THINK NOT!!! Etcetera. (Digression abstained.) Ms. Anderson observes, absorbs, and recreates worlds in her mind, and finally, we hold the first genesis. (Mom read it on the first day, and she said, "It was Good.")

[S.E. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote the book, so I'd feel quite odd giving it a rating!

However, I probably should clear some things up: yes, all questions will be answered! The entire series is planned, and everything, I mean absolutely everything, is connected. So don't worry about the occasional plot-hole shaped incident: it's all part of the adventure.

I really hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Bisous!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I've seen so many good reviews for this book, and im so glad so many people enjoyed it cause the author is great!
But im not one of them.. I think I went into this with such high expectations because one of my favorites books is an Alien romance/comedy so I guess I was hoping for something like that but I was disappointed.

First of all, I honestly didn't laugh a single time until over half way through the book during a scene where the main character got drunk, after that particular part I started enjoying the book significantly more and is the only reason I am not giving this 1-2 stars.

I was kind of upset by the romance in it, I was rooting for a specific couple and I though it was going to happen but really I don't even know what was going on there, definitely not what I wanted but whatever. Even the romance that was in it felt off, it wasn't anything I would want for myself that's for sure.

But anyways on to happier talk, I did very much enjoy Zander (even love his name) he was probably the funniest thing in the book, very interesting, never knew what would happen next with him. And I'd actually like to know where he goes from here, but I don't want to read about it...

If you are going into this book with an open mind and no expectations or hoping to compare it to one if your favorite books, I really think you will enjoy it.. but if you are wanting it to be the next "Lux" novel move along or forget that expectation right now and proceed with caution.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/8/2020)! 🎁

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason I thought this book was about an intergalactic reality TV show thing? I think something about the Goodreads summary talking about Doctor Who and “TV-drama-loving-aliens.” Either way, it isn’t about an intergalactic reality TV show, but it’s still a really fun and easy read. A good book to curl up with other than using the term “illegal alien,” joking it meant undocumented when it really meant alien.

Sally Webber is a college dropout with a broken alarm clock, recently fired from her department store job. At her best friend’s birthday party, she reconnects with a guy from one of her college classes that she had had a crush on. It seems that things are looking up, until she accidentally runs over an extremely handsome man. Or at least maybe runs over him. He manages to stand up and brush off as if nothing and in fact, doesn’t have a single scratch on him.
Turns out, his name is Zander, and he is a teleporting alien who got separated from his sister on a particularly difficult jump. Between trying to figure out how to blend in and how to save the Earth from potentially hostile aliens, Sally’s life takes a dramatic turn, for better or worse is to be determined.
This is a fun read full of romance, suspense, action, and a young woman trying to find her own place in the universe.



Diversity: +5
Race/Ethnicity: +1 (Marcy, her best friend, is second-generation Chinese American), +/-1 (Danir, Dany, could be foreign based on name and the fact that she just looks so different from anyone Sally apparently knows)
Culture: +0
Gender: +2 (Sally, Marcy, and even Dany and Blayde are able to hold their own)
Physical Disability: -1 (Grisham uses an electrical scooter presumably because he is disabled, but that is not the reason and he ends up being a villain)
Nerodiversity: +1 (Sally has generally believable anxiety and depression) +2 (#ownvoices)
LGBTQIAA: +1 (Marcy enters a loving lesbian relationship; they’re accepted by friends and it is not made into a big deal)
+/-5 (So I found the author’s Tumblr and turns out she has big plans for the characters in this series like bisexuality and pansexuality! however since it’s not addressed yet, I can’t really add it to the review)
Socioeconomic Status: +/- 1 (Valerie’s introduced as a rich foil to Sally’s poor character, but this isn’t explored very much other than her complaining about needing a roommate),


What I liked:
-Aliens are everywhere. I really like the idea that there could be aliens among us and we don’t even know. I even especially love that the idea that we’re so backward and out in the middle of no where that aliens mainly visit, but don’t stay is refuted by all of the aliens that did stay. I wish we had more experiences with regular everyday aliens that were just trying to live a “normal” life. I think that would have been a fun added element.
-Zander and Sally actually talk physics! They theorize and experiment with Zander’s power instead of just accepting it and moving on. The scenes where they talk about how it works were really interesting (but I don’t remember enough from my two semesters of physics to know how correct it is).
-The little moments and glimpses of a character living with anxiety and depression. I didn’t like that it wasn’t called out or even diagnosed, she didn’t even know what to call it, but the descriptions felt very real. Sometimes anxiety and panic attacks just happen and stressful situations definitely make them worse. It’s nice to read about a character that has found ways to cope without it being the only defining character feature, or even a huge character flaw. It’s just a part of her and that’s beautiful.

What I didn’t like:
-There are some plot holes, big and small. One of the main examples is that everything is started by some hot-air balloon landing on her roof and yet it is never explained. She remarks about it several times throughout the novel, but no explanation is given. It’s also unclear what happens to Matt at the end. Where did this strange Amazonian Dany come from? I was sure she would have more of a part than just a love-interest, after all she ran to Marcy’s party and had never seen a grill before. And there is a scene towards the beginning where Sally sees some people that shouldn’t have been there, but their presence isn’t explained (..?) I’m not sure if this will be explored in further books or if this is a standalone. I could very easily list out several specific examples of things that were introduced but not resolved. Things that can be addressed in potential future novels. (Update: it seems like this is a seven part series so that would take care of that)
-They heavily make use of the alien=illegal alien=undocumented person in this book. As someone who has been called an illegal alien as a slur, it definitely rubbed me the wrong the way. I wish they had spent more time talking about what it means to be foreign and having to live in a place completely out of what you understand. There could have been some nice parallels with what is really happening. Instead we get some throwaway jokes about being an illegal alien (as if that were funny). The other aliens that Sally meet are immediately on the run and can’t even exchange information to keep in touch.
-Sally’s background. Obviously what happened with John was terrible and she’s had a lot to deal with, but it felt like a throwaway that still affected her life without her really dealing with it. Even when she’s in the hospital at the end and has the perfect moments to reflect on what happened, she doesn’t. It’s difficult to move on (from bouts of anxiety and depression) when you don’t acknowledge it’s there or where it comes from.
-The prologue was so exciting! There was an alien commander and disappearing fugitives that didn’t stop even after they were shot. It started the book off with action and intrigue. And then the book was about an average young adult woman trying to live her life with an alien roommate and side-project to save the world. I felt like it didn’t fit as nicely. BUT I did enjoy the action scenes.

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[samyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲
𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼."

4/5 ⭐

[review tba]

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I totally ordered this book because I liked the cover and was reading A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy when I stumbled upon this series and needed more lighter and witty science-fiction. I just made one big mistake: I got the hardcover (even though the paperback cover is maybe even prettier, although after reading the book maybe less fitting) and this is a ten book series, so...that's gonna cost some money!

The series was however everything I had wanted it to be. The premise of the book is already hilarious and the book is filled with funny moments and some exciting twists and turns. What I like most is that the book is not trying too hard to be funny. It's not ridiculous or unrealistic. It feels in a way very realistic. The situations are happening "naturally" and those situations are slightly funny, but it doesn't feel forced or over the top.

I also really like all the options for future books! Zander can jump through space. It's how he ends up in the middle of the road on earth, meeting Sally. And although this first book is mostly taking place on earth, with one or two exceptions, it's clear that we're gonna see more of the universe and the world out there. I'm not sure if the die-hard science fiction fan will buy all the science in this book, but for me everything makes enough sense and I'm really longing for more.

I also really love Sally's character throughout the story. She's slightly all over the place, but that also means that she's the kind of character jumping straight into things without asking too many questions or freaking out. Which is exactly the kind of character a story like this needs. And, to make it even better, there is actually a pretty great plot in this book with a really nice finale filled with action and twists.

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally is stuck in a rut in her life, going through the motions but not really living. When she wakes up late one morning, costing her her job and basically making her have a terrible day, Sally had no idea that this was the start of what will be a very grand and epic space adventure with her very own alien guide. How can life be nothing but exciting when space travel, alien politics and saving the world are regular occurrences?

I was reading a lot of reviews on Goodreads about this being hysterical and I did not find it funny. Instead I found this to be action packed, full of crazy scenarios, kind of reminding me of the kind of science fiction adventure of The Hitchhikers Guide. We have Sally, a regular totally normal human girl who ends up finding herself in the middle of alien/space politics, evading capture, hiding the most sought after criminal, impersonating a certain frightening sister, having an alien roommate and attempting to date a nice normal human guy in the middle of all the space related mischief. It was a really fun adventure (it just wasn't funny- so don't expect humor going into this). While this book and current plotline wrapped up pretty well, this is just the start of Sally's adventures and I am interested in seeing what she will find herself involved in next.

The narrator for the audiobook did a good job of voicing Sally as well as creating distinct voices for all the other side characters. She had a great tone and pacing for every situation, keeping me engaged in the story and curious to learn more. I would recommend the audio version for anyone who enjoys listening to audiobooks.

[Meegy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I finished this amazing book today, and can I say wow! I never been on the edge of my seat this much. I do not usually read science fiction books of this sort, but I decided to take the lunge and give it a go. And I am so glad that I did. It definitely makes me want to go out and buy the rest of the series.

[Amanda [darjeeling_and_jade] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reviews are first published on [a cup of tea and an armful of books].

Starstruck is the first book that I received through The Book Robin Hoods, a group of authors and reviewers started by M.C. Frank. More information on my own involvement may be found here and here.
*     
Sally's life is not going according to plans. A college dropout, she's barely able to hold down a steady job and keep a roommate to help pay the rent. When Sally loses her job, it seems like everything is going from bad to worse––culminating in her hitting someone with her car. But it's not just any someone. He happens to be an alien. She beyond relieved when there seems to be no lasting damage, and she thinks this weird encounter is the last of it. But when he calls her to bail her out of jail, she realizes that hitting him with her car was only the beginning. Starstruck is a fun and fast-paced read that keeps the reader engaged in the story as Sally tries to figure out where she fits into this larger universe that's suddenly open to her.

Zander is the other main character in Starstruck, and the main cause of Sally's woes. Although Zander looks human, he still has a lot to learn about being human. I really enjoyed the chaos that he caused in Sally's life because of that; I loved reading how she had to teach him how to wear clothes properly and the socially accepted way of bathing. It was entertaining to read. I liked that he didn't instinctively know what to do.

Was there a handbook that could tell me what to do next? There were thousands of books that taught parenting; I was pretty sure there wasn't a self-help book about alien roommates. If there was, it was probably about abductees, not subletters.

S.E. Anderson's writing was great. I felt like the humor was genuine and I enjoyed the mixups that sometimes occurred between Sally and Zander. The words and the story flowed together nicely, giving the reader a fully coherent story that had me curious about the larger world contained but not explained. It looks like the next books in the series will be about this world that S.E. Anderson created. I was glad that the book was focused like this. It made the book more detailed because it focused on one place instead of focusing on it all at once.

I thought that S.E. Anderson created a really good protagonist in Sally. She had a great voice and personality that I enjoyed following. The way that the story was told was also slightly different than what I'm used to; it was a combination of Sally looking back on her past, asides to the reader, and current events in the novel. Sally's earnestness made the story really enjoyable. She was very grounded in her reality even when the world was becoming more complicated.

Look, you can't take people off their planet willy-nilly. It's called alien abduction, and is frowned upon in the most respectable circles.

I loved how S.E. Anderson handled the idea of aliens existing in the world. For a lot of science fiction novels, authors often go down the route where the protagonist leaves Earth and never returns. In Starstruck, that was not the case. Sally didn't just up and leave when she learned about Zander and the existence of aliens. She was skeptical of it all, even when she had proof right in front of her. I liked that she didn't 100% accept it. I liked that she questioned it. Sometimes in books like these, the protagonist is of the mindset where no one cares about her enough to miss her, so her galavanting across the world (or universe) isn't a big deal. Most of the science fiction young adult novels that I've read go this route. I loved that Starstruck didn't. It was a sci-fi set on Earth (an urban sci-fi? I'm not sure if that's a genre) which made it unique in my eyes. 

The novel also embraced its nerdiness which was awesome. There were mentions of various science fiction shows throughout the novel like little Easter eggs. I also loved the chapter titles. They're not often used in the books I read, so I liked that they were included. They were cute and gave little hints about what would be contained in the chapter but didn't spoil anything. I hope they continue in the next book.

My only criticism about the book is the lack of supporting characters. I wish that more time had been spent with Marcy, Sally's best friend. There was a good portion in the beginning where Sally was worried about her friendship with Marcy, but then that worry seemed to fade into the background. I understand that knowing things about aliens and how Earth is a moment away from being destroyed can be a little stressful, but Marcy disappeared completely. Although I do think that S.E. Anderson dropped hints about where her character will go in the future. I hope that my guesses turn out to be correct! I feel similarly about Matt and how he wasn't as fleshed out as I wanted him to be. He was a love interest, then went away for a little bit, and then reappeared when it was convenient. Personally, I feel like his character arc was a little unfair. I would have liked it to go differently, because parts of it seemed too convenient. I like developed side characters, so my small complaint is minor compared to what I liked about the book.

Ultimately I really enjoyed Starstruck and am interested in reading more from the series. But I also really like that it ends in a way that could be the ending, should I not get my hands on the next novel. I always feel pressured to continue a book series when it leaves off on a cliffhanger that makes it impossible to not read the rest of the series. I don't feel that way about Starstruck. I recommend it for readers who like light and entertaining science fiction novels. It was very fun to read and I loved the voice of the main character and the voice that S.E. Anderson has crafted for herself as an author.

4 stars.

I received a copy of Starstruck from the author through The Book Robin Hoods in exchange for an honest review. If you are a book blogger / reviewer or author interested in connecting with a supportive author / reviewer community, The Book Robin Hoods may be something for you! Check out M.C. Frank's social media pages for more information.

[Liam Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Douglas Adams and the Doctor Who series, I loved this book. It has all the tropes, types, and twists that I like in a book. It had science, it had theoretical science, and it had snark. All the snark. Aliens are practically everywhere, some cleverly hidden, some not-so-cleverly hidden, and it's the kind where it's not a disappointment, because really the story was leading you there the whole time. It's a fun space/earth romp, with a girl we can all relate to, without being an empty blank slate.
I think my favorite aspect about the whole thing, is that "The Really Cool Space Dude" is kind of a vagabond, and very quickly humbled by "Bad@$$ Space Chick" sister, which adds a level of depth you don't normally see in that kind of trope.
It's witty, it's fast paced, and it's delightfully tongue in cheek. You will get feels, you will laugh, you will go high and you will get low. In an emotional rollercoaster way, not in a dance off marathon kind of way. Or maybe you will, I don't know how you read, no judging.

But I do know if you like The Doctor, Hitchiker's Guide or Space Shennanigans, you'll like this book. Can't wait to read more.

[Darque Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starstruck is bloody brilliant! It's My So Called Life meets Doctor Who! S.E. Anderson has created comedy with a contemporary edge!

Oh man, this one was a blast to read! It was fun, refreshing, and hilarious! I loved how symbolic it was about the unpredictability of life too!

I enjoyed the story immensely. I could definitely tell the author was influenced by Doctor Who. Did I just drop the DW bomb twice? I so did! Why? Because Starstruck was just as brilliant!

Getting past the comparisons, Starstruck was a unique comedy with some unexpected twists. It was written so well that the unpredictability, and unexplainable plot occurrences (i.e. the hot air balloon), flowed seamlessly. The story was fast paced and highly engaging. It had wit and flair, and really entertaining characters.

I really loved Sally! She'd have made a perfect companion to The Doctor! She was quirky and genuine and full of sarcasm and humor!

Sally's best friend Marcy was such a loveable character. I adored her loyalty to Sally and the way she cared for her. But, I also admired her need to do her own thing and not take any shit from Sally.

Zander totally cracked me up! He was so ridiculous and serious at the same time. He embodied whimsy and charm, and I would have followed him to any planet!

And, I totally adored Blayde. She was a firecracker! I loved how alien she was and admired her pride! She was seriously kick ass!

On the surface, this was a true comedy. Digging deeper, it was also a beautiful, quirky representation of life. It had LGBTQIAA representation and touched on issues of depression, anxiety, and loss of a loved one. It was richly symbolic of how messy life can be, and how sometimes the brain just can't completely process a difficult situation.

Starstruck was a real page turner! I loved every detail, including the comical chapter titles! It had pizzazz, excitement, and amusement. It's going down as one of my top reads, and I am dying to read the next one!

I had the opportunity to read this e-book for free, in exchange for my honest review, after connecting with the author through The Book Robin Hoods site.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about Sally, a girl with chronic depression, who just recently lost her job, has dropped out of college, hates parties and accidentally runs over a guy, who can travel through time and space causing him to lose the connection to his sister and leaving him stranded on earth. All of that might sound fun on the TV, but Sally's not a fan. After getting abducted by aliens and barely escaping, Zander, the alien, still won't leave her alone, saying he needs her to save earth. But Sally doesn't really mind all that much.

While this book is one of the best Sci-Fi Books I've read in a while it feels quite short. Now, this is most likely because this book is just the first in a series of quite a few other books, which I Need Now, I just would have loved a bit more world building. It still feels a bit flat and there are so many unanswered questions!!! But hopefully, the other books of the series will come out sooner rather than later so I can enjoy and love them as well. For now, we at least have this amazing first book and I can't wait for the next one!

The world building, while not enough, is actually quite good. There's a lot of alien races, but we only know a few so far, however they are all very diverse. I also really loved the idea that there is a big alien government that prohibits aliens from contacting earth as humanity is not developed enough yet. And considering how the other book ended, I'm sure we will get to know a lot more about aliens in the next books.

I also adored that Sally is bisexual, so far only by word of god (but it will be explored more in the next books, so far, however, there's already an important lesbian side character in this first book). While she is only dating one person in this book, her attraction to more than one gender is imho already hinted at quite well and I honestly can't wait to read more about her. She is also depressed and has anxiety and it's very well portrayed in my opinion, partly probably because it's ownvoices, which I honestly loved. I felt a bit disappointed that it isn't diagnosed and so she doesn't have any words for the way she's feelings, but it was still very well portrayed.

The story is very witty and fast paced and so goes by real quickly, but it is also a delight to read.

However, there are still some plot holes that are never explained (what happened with the hot air balloon? It is constantly mentioned but what was its purpose? It was simply mentioned so often that I couldn't believe there was no bigger purpose for it than to make Sally oversleep, but there where no other explanation for its existence which annoyed me a bit, as well as a fascinating character that was not at all explored even though she should have been? I mean why introduce interesting characters when they don't get explored? But again, there will be more books and the author said they will be explained so I'm just very excited for the next books!)

((There was one scene that really pissed me off and that was the terrible treatment of sex workers. Zander, clueless to human interaction apparently, picked up a sex worker on the street to bring on a date. When he didn't want to have sex with her, she got really angry and slapped him and afterward Zander was teased for trying to date a sex worker. This scene really made me angry and I had to put the book down for a while before I could continue. This treatment of sex workers is just really gross and while it may exist in real life as well, it was never called out and just felt very gross.)) UPDATE: I recently received the finished copy and this was fixed! I re-read this scene and it was handled so much more carefully and it was way better to read without being gross or dehumanizing. I'm so glad that this was fixed and I now have to say I enjoyed this story way more, thank you for listening to this and for fixing it.

I really, really loved the story, the characters, the great description of depression and most of what happens and since the scene that really upset me is fixed, I can finally rate this book higher and tell you to read it because it is amazing and funny sci-fi and really great.

[Big Book Theory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked reading this story. It was well told and easy to read which is always nice when you just want to relax with an awesome book. I loved Zander and the premise of the story was very interesting.

[Leland Lydecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started reading this book. I had been assured that it was science fiction, and the description compares it to Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. On the other hand, the cover looks a bit like the love child of a hard scifi novel and a romance. Suffice to say I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by how the story played out.

Starstruck is a fun, lighthearted scifi tale about a struggling young woman who finds aliens hiding in plain sight here on Earth. Despite her best efforts, protagonist Sally Webber gets drawn into the intergalactic intrigue and meets sinister alien bounty hunters, diabolical crab-people, and a race of empathetic beings who’d really just like the humans to return the crew of their missing spaceship.

There’s a comedic element that had me laughing out loud, touching friendships, handsome aliens, and a diverse cast of fascinating characters. The chapter titles are brilliant, with entries like “In Which I Gain a Healthy Distrust of Parks,” “All of the Abduction, None of the Probing,” and “Messy Things You Can’t Clean With a Sponge.” Starstruck also asks some fascinating scientific questions, like what happens to the momentum of a body in motion when that body is teleported to another location.

It’s an entertaining read that strikes the perfect balance between believable science and lighthearted fun. Sally is a protagonist I found very easy to empathize with, and I felt that the ending was exceptionally well-done– although I can’t explain why without giving away major spoilers. In short, I really enjoyed Starstruck and I think you will too. I highly recommend it!

[Jet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am new science fiction reader and I'm hooked by this author. She left me hanging with 'what's next?' Each character is unique and 'full of themselves'. Subtle humor and great chapter titles kept me turning pages. Can't wait to see what on earth [or not] happens to with Sally, Blade, Zander, Grisham and Matt.

[E.A. Copen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starstruck reminds me a lot of Douglas Adams Hitchhiker's Guide the the Galaxy in tone, and Sally Webber is very much like Arthur Dent. Unmotivated, very normal with everyday problems, and an all-around blase type of person who gets tossed into a situation that's so incredibly...weird.
Which is great, if you like that sort of thing.
I don't read a lot of lighthearted stories, which this definitely is, which may explain why I found it hard to get into this. The writing was good, the characters seemed exactly as intended, and for those who enjoy the tongue-in-cheek sarcasm combined with an unremarkable heroine in a remarkable situation, this is a great read.
Personally, I prefer my heroines to stand out a little more and be more motivated than Sally Webber. A lot of the plot events seem to happen to her, rather than her taking any direct action. A lot of random things happen, and she's caught up in it when really all she wants to do is escape and disappear into mundanity.
I did however enjoy it more than Hitchhiker's, so if you like that, you'll love this. It's very much in the same vein. It just happens not to be my cup of tea. However, because of how well it was written, and how spot on the vision was for this book (it was clear S.E. Anderson was really going for what she achieved, and I admire that a lot. Hard to do.) I'll keep reading books by her, even though this is outside my normal genres.

[J.D. Cunegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my experience, science fiction is a genre that takes itself far too seriously.

Fortunately, Starstruck -- S.E. Anderson's debut novel -- doesn't have that issue. Don't mistake: the stakes are high, both in Sally's life and for the world at large, but this is a quirky tale that isn't afraid to occasionally stop and take a moment to laugh at itself.

After all, Sally goes from a relatively dead-end life to one in which she's knee-deep in aliens and trying to save the world. It's an absurd concept, and the narrative not only acknowledges that absurdity, it embraces it. Sally is a great protagonist who is surrounded by equally remarkable characters. Zander is a treat, and Blayde was so much damn fun to read -- very Faith Lehane-like -- that I want much more of her going forward.

Most protagonists with Sally's backstory spend the entire story feeling sorry for themselves, but she doesn't fall into that trope. Instead, Anderson gives her remarkable agency, revealing layers of depth and bravery even Sally doesn't realize she has, and it is viscerally satisfying to see how much Sally grows from the first page to the last.

In a way, the ending is a little bit of a head-scratcher, but a) that's by design, and b) this is clearly the first in a series I have on good authority will be at least five books in length. And if the future volumes are anything like Starstruck, then sci-fi fans are in for a treat.

Anderson's debut is a fun ride with more depth than it might appear on the surface. It's not afraid to go for a laugh, but it also takes great care in making sure Sally is at the forefront of everything. She is a fantastic character, one I'm eager to accompany on future adventures. Fortunately, Alienation -- book two -- is only a few months out.

Starstruck is one of the best books I've read this year, and it is highly recommended.

[Cathy McGough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy of this book - and have to begin by saying I LOVED IT! With everything going on the world at the moment I wanted and desperately needed an escape. That's what reading fiction is supposed to be all about right? Forgot to say the cover is absolutely stunning so rave review also for the designer. The Prologue pulled me right in, got me instantly curious about the author's world building. A few more pages in we met Sally who is going through a bit of a rough patch, but her BFF Marcy always has her back. As the novel progresses, we meet Zander in rather unusual circumstances (no spoilers here.) As he adjusts to his new life the sparks really begin to fly! And then his sister Blayde arrives! So we have kidnappings, time jumping, alien and other worldly goings-on, evil sinister plots, aliens pretending to be humans and action aplenty. So much here you keep you turning the pages! Also really enjoyed the author's sense of humour. My only question is WHEN CAN I READ THE NEXT BOOK?!

[Aurelius’s bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good, I liked the twists. You don’t know who is human and who isn’t! I love the banter between Zander, Blayde and Sally. It’s funny to see what aliens think about earth and humans. Especially when they “try” to fit in.

This book was beautifully written with easy dialogue and natural conversations, and it really transports you into the world with aliens! I definitely hope Sally and Zander end up together. I hope they do in future books! Also, I love Blayde. She is funny in the “I will kill you” kind of way.

Edit: my favourite quote is: “Do women claim to be Russian and share under-clad images online
while males assert dominance with Yu Gi-Oh! battles?”

[Ronald Lett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging read, the author keeps the story surprising and the protagonist feels very realistic to most of us who graduated college post-millennium! Although there are no heavy science fiction elements, it is a very fun bit of escapism.

[KarenJo Custodio · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 Stars - Quirky, Outrageous and Fun

Starstruck by S.E. Anderson is unique, entertaining, and so much fun. I have always been fascinated by the idea that aliens exist, so I was beyond excited when this gem arrived in the mail. I couldn’t wait to read it and when I finally did, I was smiling and laughing within the first few pages.  

The characters are fantastic, hilarious, quirky and so darn lovable. They’re all pretty awesome really... but I definitely have a soft spot for Sally, Zander and Blayde. They're so funny and their camaraderie is so endearing. Sally and Zander -- totally LOVE them! They're great as they are, but CRAZY ADORABLE together! I wholeheartedly 110% ship them.  And then there's Blayde...if there’s one character that steals the show, that would soooo be her! Blayde is confident, beautiful, intense, sassy, a great sister to Zander and oozing with so much badassery. If I didn't know any better, I think I may have developed a serious girl crush on her.

The plot is fast-paced, well written, and easy to read. There's plenty of action, suspense, fun twists, and unexpected surprises that make the story exciting and addictive.  While the romance is quite subtle, there are a few moments here and there that made me swoon. And that ending... totally crazy! I don't want to give too much away, but let me just say that Anderson, without a doubt, knows what she's doing. She lures you in with an intriguing premise, sends you on a fabulous out of this world adventure, messes with your mind just a little (okay.... maybe a lot), and then zoom... she leaves you with so many unanswered questions you'll be ridiculously anxious for the next installment.

Read my full review: https://sincerelykarenjo.wordpress.co...

[Madeline Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I received an ARC of this book, and I absolutely loved it. It's been a while since I read a science fiction novel that had this much fun and humour in it--it's refreshing, entertaining, and so well written.

The writing itself brims with personality, and Sally is one of the most likeable characters out there. Plus she's realistic too. All the characters are believable--even the aliens (and I loved how they popped up and added so much mayhem!) And the characters have pasts too, and we can see how their pasts are still affecting them emotionally. Very realistic.

One of my favourite things was the relationship between Sally and her best friend, Marcy. I loved how Marcy was super caring for Sally and looking out for her, pretty much all the time. Two very strong female characters--and they're not in competition with each other/enemies like they are in so many other books.

And Zander! Well, isn't he a breath of fresh air?

I'll be definitely picking up the second book in this series. S.E. Anderson is a skilled writer, and Starstruck's pages burst with personality, action, and humour. A must-read for science fiction fans.

[Beth Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! As a huge fan of the science fiction genre I was blown away, captivated, and intrigued. The characters were so fun and mysterious but at the end of the book I just kept flipping back and rereading.
I would have to say this book has everything a science-fiction fan could want in a great read. Mystery and adventure abound along with romance and what I hope *fingers crossed* is a slow burn surprise romance, just a thread running beneath all the sci-fi nonstop action. Oh and aliens, did I mention the aliens? Well, now I have. Let’s add in UFO’s, abductions, time jumps, and references to the greats: Firefly, Doctor Who, and Captain Picard winning the best Star Trek Captain award.
So grab this book, 20 or so cups of coffee, and settle in!
And don’t forget to bring along a towel (Douglas Adams would be proud to have read Starstruck) because you just never know!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fun, compulsively easy sci-fi reading - like Hitchhiker’s guide, but from a young, modern, female perspective. I have breezed through this book, snorting to myself at particularly funny things and yet, also marking down quotes I utterly adore and don’t want to forget! The FMC is totally relatable - a mess of a girl recovering from emotional trauma who’s also savvy and surprisingly skillful when the occasion calls for stealth. The mysterious Zander is a fantastic character and his sister, Blayde, both terrifies and awes me. I’m dying to know so much more about them!
I can’t wait to read more books in this series!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun read. I did expect more of a galactic setting but most of it was set on Earth. The first half of the book was humorous with our alien, Zander, getting stuck on Earth and how he and Sally deal with his appearance. The second half changes gears and switches to action. I really enjoyed the second half more due to the action and more sci-fi feel. New author for me and I will be continuing on with the series. I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

[Kate Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Science Fiction on the small screen but never felt the urge to read any SF books until now.
I am so pleased I have read Starstruck. It is fast paced with a balance of intrigue, humour, and even romance.
I think this will appeal to fellow fans of TV series Quantum Leap or Mork and Mindy, of Men in Black films and those who enjoy a good thriller.
The writing style transported me into the scenes making it easy to read and to appreciate the plot.
I will be reading more of SE Anderson I am sure.

[Jonathan Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, well written

Really enjoyed this story. Will be straight onto the next!

Oftentimes books like these are full of holes and poorly written. Not this one. Thank you Sarah. So glad I saw the post on Facebook and commented, and you replied.

Nothing much more to say except if you like sci-fi then this is a good book for you.

Oh, and without giving too much away, I presume the nod to another (very famous) sci-fi series at the very end was deliberate. Right, where did I put my towel?

[Catherine Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical sci-fi! I really enjoyed this book and the main character Sally. Zander was my next favorite. It kept you guessing until the end with action and laughs throughout. I look forward to reading book two.

A great debut novel by an author who I will definitely be keeping track of for the next books release.

[Rebecca Reddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was eager with the premise of S.E. Anderson's book "Starstruck". Aliens? Life or death situations? Sci-Fi? Adventure? Sign me up!

The storyline was fast-paced, action-driven, and imaginative. It was well-thought out and had enough in it to keep you engaged but not too much to make you feel overwhelmed. With that said, I did notice some areas which brought on confusion. It jumped a little bit here and there in the story which will cause the reader to have to reread or stop and think about how the scene moved from one place to the next.

"Starstruck" has a great, original voice. Sally is a quirky character, and you can relate to her trials. I liked her, but I did find it hard to really engage with her as the MC until further into the story. As I said before, there were some confusing moments, and as a result, I felt a little disconnected from Sally.

The beginning of the story had me hooked. I loved the introduction, and it set the tone for the whole story, but I kept waiting for it to circle back around within the rest of the novel, and it didn't. I understood why it didn't once I learned more about Zander, what he did and could do, and how it all worked together. However, I have to say I was a little disappointed.

Another part of the story I relished was the relationship between Zander and Sally. They became friends. Nothing about their relationship was forced but well-developed. It was great to see characters in a story not rush into love or romance or anything. They maintained a real friendship, albeit a weird one, which grew over the course of the story.

In fact, Sally had a love interest named Matt. I did feel as if this part was a little rushed. It kind of came out of nowhere and didn't feel as authentic in some ways. I liked Matt. He was a great character. I liked how Sally was into him as well. There was no weird, awkward love triangle which was awesome! Although, Matt did get upset and break things off with Sally when he felt she was keeping secrets that revolved around Zander.

However, he apologized and tried to make things right. In the biggest way possible, he made up for his minor spurt of jealousy. To be honest, I would have liked seeing this relationship progress more over the course of the story. It took a weird turn toward the end that surprised me. I think I'm a little in shock still. That's all I will say. Read it to find out what happens and form your own opinion. :)

Zander was a captivating character. What he could do was fascinating, and his parts of the story were the most enthralling. Sadly, I felt a little disconnected to his character as well. He had an amazing story, but you could only hear parts of it. He was there and not there.

Overall, Zander was kind and cared, but he felt ambiguous, vague. I couldn't really appreciate him even as much as I appreciated Matt because of this. Still, his part of the story was entertaining.

Sally, as I mentioned earlier, felt the same way. Too vague in some ways for me to feel engaged in her plight. I appreciate her point of view, her struggles, etc., but I couldn't feel invested because we don't even learn who John is and what happened until the story is more than half over. Her friends pop in and out, and although Matt and Zander and the creepy boss "see Sally's potential and how wonderful she is", I never saw it really on paper. I felt I was told about it more than I actually saw examples of it.

(Not that she's a bad character at all. She's not! I just felt I was told about her character instead of having the opportunity to see it through her actions, even though she was helpful to Zander in his own plot advancement. Her moment as "Blayde" was well-done!)

This world and this plot were all fabulous. I really liked it. I did come to like the characters as well; I just couldn't feel invested in them until the book was more than halfway over. Basically, (SPOILER) by the time Sally helps blow up the plant, I started to really like her.

There were some editing, telling, paragraph issues that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the story. I hate to be one of those people, but it's just when it has more than a handful that my teacher/editor spidey-senses freak a little. I'm sorry about that. Thankfully, it was not a major issue.

The reason I gave this story 4 Stars overall was for its originality, its details, its ending, and the actual connection I felt toward the end. When Sally has an "out-of-body" experience, it was a unique hook, and it connected with me.

I liked it enough that I would enjoy reading any sequels. I would definitely give them a try. I think the author is talented and has a great concept, and I hope she will continue with this series to show her growth and intriguing ideas. Thanks to the author, S.E. Anderson, for giving me a free copy of "Starstruck" in exchange for a fair, honest review.