What do you think?
Rate this book
Separate Like Stars
On paper, Jordan Cohen has it all. With numerous bestsellers under her belt, a number of blockbuster movie adaptations to her credit, and a high profile relationship with one of Hollywood’s most prominent stars, what more could she possibly ask for?
Maybe for Olivia Bradley, the only woman to ever break her heart, to exit her life as quickly as she’d re-entered it.
When an ongoing case of writer’s block triggers a series of unforeseeable events, Jordan is forced to face the tragedies of her past and reevaluate the life she has been contentedly coasting through. As she reaches a crossroads, she must decide if she’ll be able to forgive her former best friend, and just how much is she willing to sacrifice in the name of happiness.
137,000 words
Maybe for Olivia Bradley, the only woman to ever break her heart, to exit her life as quickly as she’d re-entered it.
When an ongoing case of writer’s block triggers a series of unforeseeable events, Jordan is forced to face the tragedies of her past and reevaluate the life she has been contentedly coasting through. As she reaches a crossroads, she must decide if she’ll be able to forgive her former best friend, and just how much is she willing to sacrifice in the name of happiness.
137,000 words
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2018
216 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
Diana Kane
4 books84 followersAuthor of book detailing the lives and loves of women loving women. The characters are saucy, sassy and hopefully relatable as they travel through life.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
December 5, 2018
**'Vigorous writing is concise...'
4.5stars!
Love! Love! LOVED!
A truly emotional,heartwarming and lovely story. Recommended to everyone!
4.5stars!
Love! Love! LOVED!
A truly emotional,heartwarming and lovely story. Recommended to everyone!
December 24, 2021
4.25 stars. I enjoyed this very much (listened to the audiobook). The characters were great and I also liked their accepting families and their friendly and good communication, even with their exes. There is drama (with a good dose of angst), fun, and warm fuzzies.
It’s a second chance romance that starts with a flashback on how the mains (Jordan and Olivia) met. I’m not a fan of flashbacks, but this was actually a really good one. It’s one long chronological flashback on how they met as teenagers and it was super cute. Then there is a small time jump to when they are older and break up. At this point there were definitely some head scratching moments. Some actions I could not understand and this was the only part of the book where the communication was sorely lacking. It’s written in first person from the POV of Jordan and I would have liked Olivia’s POVs here as well. Maybe that would have made the things that happened make more sense? But OK, I put it under being young and dumb. I enjoyed the book too much to let this distract me. Then it falls back to the present. There is also a little 80% drama moment, which you see coming from a mile away, and it was not necessary for me, but again, it also didn’t really bother me as it was quickly resolved.
This story is all about the characters, they really pulled me into it. It’s well written and the narration by Abby Craden was absolutely captivating. I easily recommend it to those that like their romance with some angst.
It’s a second chance romance that starts with a flashback on how the mains (Jordan and Olivia) met. I’m not a fan of flashbacks, but this was actually a really good one. It’s one long chronological flashback on how they met as teenagers and it was super cute. Then there is a small time jump to when they are older and break up. At this point there were definitely some head scratching moments. Some actions I could not understand and this was the only part of the book where the communication was sorely lacking. It’s written in first person from the POV of Jordan and I would have liked Olivia’s POVs here as well. Maybe that would have made the things that happened make more sense? But OK, I put it under being young and dumb. I enjoyed the book too much to let this distract me. Then it falls back to the present. There is also a little 80% drama moment, which you see coming from a mile away, and it was not necessary for me, but again, it also didn’t really bother me as it was quickly resolved.
This story is all about the characters, they really pulled me into it. It’s well written and the narration by Abby Craden was absolutely captivating. I easily recommend it to those that like their romance with some angst.
December 7, 2018
I don’t even know where to start with this one! To keep this short, I highly highly recommend it! A romantic love story full of angst.. both characters are ADORABLE ( come on a chef and a writer what more can anyone want) , and the relationship between them and their families & friends is unbelievably cute .. it’s the kind of book that you don’t want to finish because it’s just so damn good and entertaining !
Dear Diana Kane: this is my first time reading your stuff and I will be reading more, but more importantly, now I want a sequel to this book because I can’t get enough of Olivia & Jordan :)
Dear Diana Kane: this is my first time reading your stuff and I will be reading more, but more importantly, now I want a sequel to this book because I can’t get enough of Olivia & Jordan :)
December 26, 2020
This book is crazy. It’s a headlong spin into Angst with a capital A. If that’s what you love, most definitely give this book a whirl. You’ll be pleased or you’ll be pulling your hair out or maybe you’ll curse at it like I was doing.
Jordan and Olivia are teenage sweethearts who enjoy an intense romance into their college years but then life happens. I can’t say much more without spoilers. There are twists and plenty of heat in this story. The author does not hold back in relating events or sentiments. You’ll take sides and wonder if any of it is worth all the heartache and headache.
My only wish is that we had gotten the story through Olivia’s pov as well. As it is, we see everything via Jordan’s eyes and I just don’t think that was fair at all. In this kind of story, you need to hear from both people. Anyway, I enjoyed the emotional workout and would recommend.
4.25 stars for this humdinger. Also, Abby Craden was wonderful. I could listen to her say “I love you” on a loop.
Jordan and Olivia are teenage sweethearts who enjoy an intense romance into their college years but then life happens. I can’t say much more without spoilers. There are twists and plenty of heat in this story. The author does not hold back in relating events or sentiments. You’ll take sides and wonder if any of it is worth all the heartache and headache.
My only wish is that we had gotten the story through Olivia’s pov as well. As it is, we see everything via Jordan’s eyes and I just don’t think that was fair at all. In this kind of story, you need to hear from both people. Anyway, I enjoyed the emotional workout and would recommend.
4.25 stars for this humdinger. Also, Abby Craden was wonderful. I could listen to her say “I love you” on a loop.
August 14, 2019
I loved this.... brilliant story, plenty of chemistry between the main characters. I would definitely read this one again.
March 3, 2025
OMG. How much do I love this audiobook?!? I have discovered that the angsty ones - while they kill me - are those that wrap firmly around my heart and won't let go.
In a similar vein to The Art of Us by KL Hughes, this is the story of two lovers who meet when they are still in high school. They are from a small town so can't exactly be out and proud, but are mature beyond their years and navigate their relationship with their parents wisely.
It doesn't take long for all parties involved to realize that Olivia and Jordan have met their forever person. But as years go by, life gets in their way - thwarting what they always believed would be their trajectory. This story is their journey back to one another. This isn't a spoiler - it's a romance and that's kind of a requirement unless you want a major lesbian uprising.
The audiobook is 12 hours long and covers decades, with a super slow burn that made this reader ache for resolution. For a time I wasn't sure if Olivia's character was ever going to win ME back - much less Jordan. She made some decisions that were confounding to me, yet I wonder if that is all about perspective. What choices do we make when we are young that we would never make with some life experience behind us?
There is also a stunning turn of events in this story I didn't see coming that made it all the more emotionally wrenching.
If you're going to put a story like this on audio, Abby Craden is the perfect person to narrate it. She excels at portraying vulnerability and is right in her element here.
Books that make a reader feel this deeply are definitely doing something right. I listened to this title for free through my library and moments after it ended, I purchased it on Audible. This swoonworthingly beautiful story is now firmly on my favorites list. I finished last night and haven't stopped clutching my chest yet!
In a similar vein to The Art of Us by KL Hughes, this is the story of two lovers who meet when they are still in high school. They are from a small town so can't exactly be out and proud, but are mature beyond their years and navigate their relationship with their parents wisely.
It doesn't take long for all parties involved to realize that Olivia and Jordan have met their forever person. But as years go by, life gets in their way - thwarting what they always believed would be their trajectory. This story is their journey back to one another. This isn't a spoiler - it's a romance and that's kind of a requirement unless you want a major lesbian uprising.
The audiobook is 12 hours long and covers decades, with a super slow burn that made this reader ache for resolution. For a time I wasn't sure if Olivia's character was ever going to win ME back - much less Jordan. She made some decisions that were confounding to me, yet I wonder if that is all about perspective. What choices do we make when we are young that we would never make with some life experience behind us?
There is also a stunning turn of events in this story I didn't see coming that made it all the more emotionally wrenching.
If you're going to put a story like this on audio, Abby Craden is the perfect person to narrate it. She excels at portraying vulnerability and is right in her element here.
Books that make a reader feel this deeply are definitely doing something right. I listened to this title for free through my library and moments after it ended, I purchased it on Audible. This swoonworthingly beautiful story is now firmly on my favorites list. I finished last night and haven't stopped clutching my chest yet!
Read
January 3, 2019DNF. Made it to the 50% mark but I just became more and more disinterested in the characters and the story as the book moved along. If you like your reads angsty with large dollops of miscommunication, this one is for you!
November 19, 2018
Such an emotional story. Very well written. Can't help but fall in love with Jordan and Olivia. It's a must read.
March 9, 2025
I listened to the audio on this one on Hoopla with Abby Craden narrating. It is full of angst that takes place over a 20 year relationship. Jordan writes a bestseller as a 20 year old at the same time that her high school girlfriend Olivia, breaks up with her. Jordan’s early writing success is not given much description in the book and her next book becoming a movie.
I liked the early part of the book best and felt I lost track of Jordan’s personality in the second half. Olivia was a great and well developed character who finds herself in a deep depression and fights her way back out of it.
I liked the early part of the book best and felt I lost track of Jordan’s personality in the second half. Olivia was a great and well developed character who finds herself in a deep depression and fights her way back out of it.
December 26, 2020
Update: just listened to this one, narrated by Abby Craden, will not disappoint. Still loved the characters and rooted for them both. Craden’s narration was wonderful as usual. Maybe a 4.5 since wanted a better explanation from Olivia. However, after discussing with my dear friend, I think everything just clashed to cause that behavior-nope, no spoilers from me.
I've read all of Kane's books and they are all solid stories that I thoroughly enjoyed. This one is a different story altogether. I absolutely fell in love with the beginning of the book. Reminded me of Just Juliet except this story continued beyond the initial years. I was hooked with the story and very much interested in how it was going to end up. It was incredibly endearing and one of those "but wait, they belong together, how could this be?!" kind of thing. Would definitely recommend.
I've read all of Kane's books and they are all solid stories that I thoroughly enjoyed. This one is a different story altogether. I absolutely fell in love with the beginning of the book. Reminded me of Just Juliet except this story continued beyond the initial years. I was hooked with the story and very much interested in how it was going to end up. It was incredibly endearing and one of those "but wait, they belong together, how could this be?!" kind of thing. Would definitely recommend.
April 16, 2021
Another story a lot of people loved but I failed to connect with.
TL;DR:
- good backstory but unsatisfying follow-through
- obvious plot developments quickly made things boring
- too many side characters don’t add value to the story
- weak causes of conflicts
- flat storyline for the most part led to unjustifiable book length
- deserved a less predictable conclusion
--------------------------------------------------
It’s tricky to write a review for this book without spoiling anything, so I’m saving the spoilery stuff for later, hidden in tags.
The entire thing is written in first person in Jordan’s POV. When I read the blurb, I thought we’d be getting an interesting story of a love triangle. Finishing the first third of the book though, which mostly told Jordan and Olivia’s history, it quickly became apparent that that wouldn’t be the case. The first clue was in how Addison (J’s current girlfriend) was introduced in the story. This was my first disappointment. The first tell of predictable developments ahead.
Things I liked/loved
The author did a good job of writing J&O’s dating history. Even if their teenage friendship and high school romance progressed fast, the mature way they initially navigated their relationship was admirable—it was actually idyllic. They:
- were communicative
- were caring toward each other, even when they were just friends
- both have supportive, non-homophobic parents
- were in households that treated each other like families
One of the films mentioned here is When Night Is Falling. I loved this film so the mere mention of it delighted me. It’s got a weird, unconventional storytelling, but it’s also an artistically-made, enthralling film.
There was a John Wick analogy somewhere here that I loved too.
Anyway, back to the book…
Things I had problems with
In the flashbacks, the author indicated the month and year when things were happening. Going back to the present, however, we were kept in the dark for quite some time regarding how many years have passed. It was annoying and provided no benefit for the narrative moving forward.
There were lots of side characters who don’t get introduced properly and were given very few “screen times,” so when they reappear in another scene, I almost always don’t remember who they are. Had I not written notes re these characters, I’d be pissed at frequently having the need to look up their names just to remind myself who they are. I had to consult my notes quite a lot for this. Also, too many women side characters had names starting with “K.” It was ridiculous mixing up who Katie, Kira, and Kirsten are 🤦🏻♀️
The following part of this review is where I’m going to have to enclose majority in a spoiler tag. Be warned that in order to explain the substantial issues I had with the book, I needed to provide a summary exposing practically the entire story.
I hated how things were intentionally made to be vague at this point. It didn’t make sense why J never demanded answers and why O avoided to provide one. I can’t even count this as a miscommunication problem because there was no communication regarding it to begin with.
This ended in HEA. The direction the story went, however, bored me for the most part till the end. I think this deserved a less predictable conclusion.
TL;DR:
- good backstory but unsatisfying follow-through
- obvious plot developments quickly made things boring
- too many side characters don’t add value to the story
- weak causes of conflicts
- flat storyline for the most part led to unjustifiable book length
- deserved a less predictable conclusion
--------------------------------------------------
It’s tricky to write a review for this book without spoiling anything, so I’m saving the spoilery stuff for later, hidden in tags.
The entire thing is written in first person in Jordan’s POV. When I read the blurb, I thought we’d be getting an interesting story of a love triangle. Finishing the first third of the book though, which mostly told Jordan and Olivia’s history, it quickly became apparent that that wouldn’t be the case. The first clue was in how Addison (J’s current girlfriend) was introduced in the story. This was my first disappointment. The first tell of predictable developments ahead.
Things I liked/loved
The author did a good job of writing J&O’s dating history. Even if their teenage friendship and high school romance progressed fast, the mature way they initially navigated their relationship was admirable—it was actually idyllic. They:
- were communicative
- were caring toward each other, even when they were just friends
- both have supportive, non-homophobic parents
- were in households that treated each other like families
One of the films mentioned here is When Night Is Falling. I loved this film so the mere mention of it delighted me. It’s got a weird, unconventional storytelling, but it’s also an artistically-made, enthralling film.
There was a John Wick analogy somewhere here that I loved too.
Anyway, back to the book…
Things I had problems with
In the flashbacks, the author indicated the month and year when things were happening. Going back to the present, however, we were kept in the dark for quite some time regarding how many years have passed. It was annoying and provided no benefit for the narrative moving forward.
There were lots of side characters who don’t get introduced properly and were given very few “screen times,” so when they reappear in another scene, I almost always don’t remember who they are. Had I not written notes re these characters, I’d be pissed at frequently having the need to look up their names just to remind myself who they are. I had to consult my notes quite a lot for this. Also, too many women side characters had names starting with “K.” It was ridiculous mixing up who Katie, Kira, and Kirsten are 🤦🏻♀️
The following part of this review is where I’m going to have to enclose majority in a spoiler tag. Be warned that in order to explain the substantial issues I had with the book, I needed to provide a summary exposing practically the entire story.
I hated how things were intentionally made to be vague at this point. It didn’t make sense why J never demanded answers and why O avoided to provide one. I can’t even count this as a miscommunication problem because there was no communication regarding it to begin with.
This ended in HEA. The direction the story went, however, bored me for the most part till the end. I think this deserved a less predictable conclusion.
October 2, 2021
Review of Separate like Stars by Diana Kane, Audiobook narrated by Abby Craden
I had this book on my TBR list for a while now when I realised that the audiobook was recently released, narrated by no less than Abby Craden. Time to tackle that TBR list and treat me with a good narration at the same time.
Jordan Cohen is a successful writer of bestsellers with film adaptations from her books and a movie star girlfriend. But when her former best friend and high school sweetheart Olivia Bradley returns to her hometown and to Jordan’s life, she’ll have to confront what happened between them and what to do to be happy again.
This is a second chance romance between two women who were inseparable as teenagers but were separated by life circumstances during their college years. There is a long flashback at the beginning of the book describing the origins of their relationship which is a sweet YA romance and then back to their reconnection in their adult lives.
At 137,000 words, almost 12 hours of audiobook, there is a lot going on, some things more relevant than others. I’m not completely sure, but my guess is that this novel was originally fanfic and readapted as a novel. The length and the way the chapters are organised like small stories within the bigger one seem to reinforce this idea. Consequently, a good part of this book could have been left out without affecting the main story. It’s something that might have annoyed me if I didn’t have Abby Craden narrating it to me, so no harm done. Due to the length of the story, the reader can get the full experience of the relationship between the mains, with a heavy dose of angst but also funny moments and very hot scenes. There’s something for everyone in this novel.
The story is told in first person from the point of view of Jordan exclusively. She’s a multidimensional character with flaws, fears and doubts. She could sometimes be frustrating, but again, Abby Craden’s narration made her sound better. I possibly wouldn’t have been so forgiving if I was reading it but I can also understand the sources of Jordan’s indecision. As the reader isn’t in Olivia’s headspace, we see her through Jordan’s eyes; kudos to the author to show that she’s got many redeeming qualities.
I’m glad that I’ve listened to the audiobook version as Abby Craden makes every story so much better. All her voices were distinct despite the characters’ age and gender. This is a novel that conveys a lot of different emotions, from funny moments to angst-driven scenes, but as usual, Ms. Craden delivered with top-notch talent. I loved her interpretation of Jordan, I think she’s got her personality perfectly. If you are a fan of Ms. Craden’s narrations, then you are going to enjoy this one too. 4.5 stars.
Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
Available in Scribd
I had this book on my TBR list for a while now when I realised that the audiobook was recently released, narrated by no less than Abby Craden. Time to tackle that TBR list and treat me with a good narration at the same time.
Jordan Cohen is a successful writer of bestsellers with film adaptations from her books and a movie star girlfriend. But when her former best friend and high school sweetheart Olivia Bradley returns to her hometown and to Jordan’s life, she’ll have to confront what happened between them and what to do to be happy again.
This is a second chance romance between two women who were inseparable as teenagers but were separated by life circumstances during their college years. There is a long flashback at the beginning of the book describing the origins of their relationship which is a sweet YA romance and then back to their reconnection in their adult lives.
At 137,000 words, almost 12 hours of audiobook, there is a lot going on, some things more relevant than others. I’m not completely sure, but my guess is that this novel was originally fanfic and readapted as a novel. The length and the way the chapters are organised like small stories within the bigger one seem to reinforce this idea. Consequently, a good part of this book could have been left out without affecting the main story. It’s something that might have annoyed me if I didn’t have Abby Craden narrating it to me, so no harm done. Due to the length of the story, the reader can get the full experience of the relationship between the mains, with a heavy dose of angst but also funny moments and very hot scenes. There’s something for everyone in this novel.
The story is told in first person from the point of view of Jordan exclusively. She’s a multidimensional character with flaws, fears and doubts. She could sometimes be frustrating, but again, Abby Craden’s narration made her sound better. I possibly wouldn’t have been so forgiving if I was reading it but I can also understand the sources of Jordan’s indecision. As the reader isn’t in Olivia’s headspace, we see her through Jordan’s eyes; kudos to the author to show that she’s got many redeeming qualities.
I’m glad that I’ve listened to the audiobook version as Abby Craden makes every story so much better. All her voices were distinct despite the characters’ age and gender. This is a novel that conveys a lot of different emotions, from funny moments to angst-driven scenes, but as usual, Ms. Craden delivered with top-notch talent. I loved her interpretation of Jordan, I think she’s got her personality perfectly. If you are a fan of Ms. Craden’s narrations, then you are going to enjoy this one too. 4.5 stars.
Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
Available in Scribd
September 11, 2024
4.5
"Know that I love you and I see a future for us if you still want one. God, I hope you still want one."
I really loved Jordan and Liv’s story. It was tough to read at times because it felt so real, especially when it showed how hard it can be to forgive someone you love after they’ve hurt you. Liv and Jordan had to work hard to be together, and they had to rebuild a love that was damaged after Liv’s mistake. Their journey was written with so much care, and even though they hurt each other, the love between them was always there—you could feel it in every word Diana Kane wrote. The only thing I didn’t love was the ending. The epilogue was nice, but I just wish it had taken us a bit further into their story.
"Know that I love you and I see a future for us if you still want one. God, I hope you still want one."
I really loved Jordan and Liv’s story. It was tough to read at times because it felt so real, especially when it showed how hard it can be to forgive someone you love after they’ve hurt you. Liv and Jordan had to work hard to be together, and they had to rebuild a love that was damaged after Liv’s mistake. Their journey was written with so much care, and even though they hurt each other, the love between them was always there—you could feel it in every word Diana Kane wrote. The only thing I didn’t love was the ending. The epilogue was nice, but I just wish it had taken us a bit further into their story.
November 17, 2018
Emotional
This story spans a lifetime and at times, the pace felt like that too. This is a long one. But necessary for the length of time it covers.
Starts sweet as two girls navigate feelings in high school. Quickly gets very angsty. So read this if you are in the mood for that punch in the gut type of feeling for a lot of it. I happen to really like emo storylines so this was right up my alley.
There were some things I didn't quite get. Even with explanation. But was really into it enough to push beyond my disbelief and just go with it.
Glad I did because it was quite touching.
It's hard to review this because anything I want to say would spoil.
Read this if you want a good, long, emotional read.
This story spans a lifetime and at times, the pace felt like that too. This is a long one. But necessary for the length of time it covers.
Starts sweet as two girls navigate feelings in high school. Quickly gets very angsty. So read this if you are in the mood for that punch in the gut type of feeling for a lot of it. I happen to really like emo storylines so this was right up my alley.
There were some things I didn't quite get. Even with explanation. But was really into it enough to push beyond my disbelief and just go with it.
Glad I did because it was quite touching.
It's hard to review this because anything I want to say would spoil.
Read this if you want a good, long, emotional read.
February 25, 2024
✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2024 🌈✨: Main Board - Same or Similar Job as You
5 stars. This was absolutely beautiful. Sweeping, romantic, angsty, heartbreaking and engrossing. I couldn’t get enough of this. I was up super late reading this book because once I started it I didn’t want to put my kindle down. It has a lot of things I love in it. It’s a second chance romance, it’s super emotional and angsty, it’s well paced and well written, and there’s some damn good groveling.
Jordan is a famous author but emotionally she’s very closed off and keeps people at a distance. That’s because her heart is still broken. She was in a relationship years ago with Olivia and Olivia just pulled away and distanced herself from Jordan. There’s so much hurt and anger in Jordan but I completely understood why. It was very easy to empathize with her. Once Olivia moves back to their hometown and becomes Jordan’s neighbor they slowly start to reconnect. I loved it. I love that the author wrote the beginning part of the book in the past to show us when they two met and their relationship all the way up until it all fell apart. It was great and heartbreaking.
The present day stuff was just as great because I am a sucker for a second chance romance and this one was excellent. I loved how Olivia took responsibility and how much she groveled. She knew she had done Jordan wrong and she understood and respected Jordan’s feelings even when she was being difficult. Watching Jordan let down her walls and fall back in love with Olivia was beautiful. I thought they were great together and their chemistry was undeniable.
This review is getting too long so to wrap it up everything about this worked for me. I loved the side characters just as much as the main characters and the emotional moments hit hard but the HEA was fantastic. I can’t wait to read more by Diana Kane because this book blew me away.
{Challenges completed:
✔The Lost Challenges: Romantic Comedies Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: We Need a Cupid Challenge}
5 stars. This was absolutely beautiful. Sweeping, romantic, angsty, heartbreaking and engrossing. I couldn’t get enough of this. I was up super late reading this book because once I started it I didn’t want to put my kindle down. It has a lot of things I love in it. It’s a second chance romance, it’s super emotional and angsty, it’s well paced and well written, and there’s some damn good groveling.
Jordan is a famous author but emotionally she’s very closed off and keeps people at a distance. That’s because her heart is still broken. She was in a relationship years ago with Olivia and Olivia just pulled away and distanced herself from Jordan. There’s so much hurt and anger in Jordan but I completely understood why. It was very easy to empathize with her. Once Olivia moves back to their hometown and becomes Jordan’s neighbor they slowly start to reconnect. I loved it. I love that the author wrote the beginning part of the book in the past to show us when they two met and their relationship all the way up until it all fell apart. It was great and heartbreaking.
The present day stuff was just as great because I am a sucker for a second chance romance and this one was excellent. I loved how Olivia took responsibility and how much she groveled. She knew she had done Jordan wrong and she understood and respected Jordan’s feelings even when she was being difficult. Watching Jordan let down her walls and fall back in love with Olivia was beautiful. I thought they were great together and their chemistry was undeniable.
This review is getting too long so to wrap it up everything about this worked for me. I loved the side characters just as much as the main characters and the emotional moments hit hard but the HEA was fantastic. I can’t wait to read more by Diana Kane because this book blew me away.
{Challenges completed:
✔The Lost Challenges: Romantic Comedies Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: We Need a Cupid Challenge}
November 24, 2018
So so good
This was such a fantastic read. I’ve read a couple of books by this author which I liked, but I absolutely loved this one. The main characters are endearing and likeable while being flawed. I mean, they’re pretty much like most of us in the human race. This is quite a long book and I think that is a critical factor in excellent character development. Add in that this book was free on kindle unlimited and it just makes it that much better. Score!
This was such a fantastic read. I’ve read a couple of books by this author which I liked, but I absolutely loved this one. The main characters are endearing and likeable while being flawed. I mean, they’re pretty much like most of us in the human race. This is quite a long book and I think that is a critical factor in excellent character development. Add in that this book was free on kindle unlimited and it just makes it that much better. Score!
August 7, 2019
Seriously do your self a favour and pick up this gem.
First ever book by this author, was not disappointed.
Just flows so easily this book, easy to follow, believable, great characters.
Couldn’t put the book down! Kudos to the author! Where have you been hiding? Keep on writing.
On to my next one from this author.
First ever book by this author, was not disappointed.
Just flows so easily this book, easy to follow, believable, great characters.
Couldn’t put the book down! Kudos to the author! Where have you been hiding? Keep on writing.
On to my next one from this author.
December 16, 2018
Detailed score: 3.5 rounded down
Ugh. This one was frustrating. At it’s heart is a heart-gripping story that could easily have scored a 4/5. Ultimately though, there were some really distracting elements that, taken together, really took me out of the story:
- characters interacting but the author deliberately not making it clear up front who they were
- along similar lines; new characters just being dropped in scenes and then being introduced after the fact.
One or twice is fine, but it happened so often I really found myself having to work hard to remember who each person was (and there’s quite a few). I’m still not quite sure when we first got introduced to the character of ‘Gavin’, or how our lead met him :-s
- dialogue being written as people would write things, not say them
- and again along similar lines; the ‘voices’ of teenagers being unrealistically adult
- barriers to love that get a lot of time when it’s unclear exactly why they’re such a barrier (i can’t expand more without mega spoilers)
...it’s always easier to name the negatives though. And I gave this book 3 stars (not 1 or 2) for a reason. Despite all the above, I found myself really engaging with the story. I particularly liked that it didn’t feel rushed. We got to know the characters and what they meant to each other across multiple time periods. And there was an underlying richness there that I’m finding difficult to capture here but I enjoyed nonetheless.
Ultimately: only 3 stars this time around but worth a read to support an emerging author. I’d definitely give something else from this author a read in the future.
Ugh. This one was frustrating. At it’s heart is a heart-gripping story that could easily have scored a 4/5. Ultimately though, there were some really distracting elements that, taken together, really took me out of the story:
- characters interacting but the author deliberately not making it clear up front who they were
- along similar lines; new characters just being dropped in scenes and then being introduced after the fact.
One or twice is fine, but it happened so often I really found myself having to work hard to remember who each person was (and there’s quite a few). I’m still not quite sure when we first got introduced to the character of ‘Gavin’, or how our lead met him :-s
- dialogue being written as people would write things, not say them
- and again along similar lines; the ‘voices’ of teenagers being unrealistically adult
- barriers to love that get a lot of time when it’s unclear exactly why they’re such a barrier (i can’t expand more without mega spoilers)
...it’s always easier to name the negatives though. And I gave this book 3 stars (not 1 or 2) for a reason. Despite all the above, I found myself really engaging with the story. I particularly liked that it didn’t feel rushed. We got to know the characters and what they meant to each other across multiple time periods. And there was an underlying richness there that I’m finding difficult to capture here but I enjoyed nonetheless.
Ultimately: only 3 stars this time around but worth a read to support an emerging author. I’d definitely give something else from this author a read in the future.
December 14, 2018
Fantastic!
January 26, 2019
Well, if you are in the mood for ANGST, then dive right in...
I enjoyed parts of this book immensely, others not so much, and overall just felt it went on for too long.
Jordan and Olivia fall in love as teenagers and stay in love. Until Olivia inexplicably messes everything up. The whole story is told from Jordan's point of view. If I ever meet a fairy god mother, one of my wishes is going to be to stop the use of first person POV, unless it's abso-lute-ly essential to the story. And it isn't. With Jordan's heart broken and whatnot we salto through time until the lovers are reunited- not happily at first.
The story for me was at its best when Jordan and Olivia first fall in love. And it's at its worst when we have chapter after chapter of sheer Angst and never-ending low drama conflict. For me the problem is that we all know how this kind of book is going to end. So, the fun in reading is to find out how we get there. There are only so many moments of suspense, wrong-turns, etc you can put into this story (that we all know how it's going to end) before I find it gets a bit frustrating. And, to be honest, a bit tedious. For me this is a little bit like having really nice friends over, but they are staying a bit too long and you're just getting a bit tired and wish they'd leave.
It's a good book. It would be better if it were about 1/3 less long.
I enjoyed parts of this book immensely, others not so much, and overall just felt it went on for too long.
Jordan and Olivia fall in love as teenagers and stay in love. Until Olivia inexplicably messes everything up. The whole story is told from Jordan's point of view. If I ever meet a fairy god mother, one of my wishes is going to be to stop the use of first person POV, unless it's abso-lute-ly essential to the story. And it isn't. With Jordan's heart broken and whatnot we salto through time until the lovers are reunited- not happily at first.
The story for me was at its best when Jordan and Olivia first fall in love. And it's at its worst when we have chapter after chapter of sheer Angst and never-ending low drama conflict. For me the problem is that we all know how this kind of book is going to end. So, the fun in reading is to find out how we get there. There are only so many moments of suspense, wrong-turns, etc you can put into this story (that we all know how it's going to end) before I find it gets a bit frustrating. And, to be honest, a bit tedious. For me this is a little bit like having really nice friends over, but they are staying a bit too long and you're just getting a bit tired and wish they'd leave.
It's a good book. It would be better if it were about 1/3 less long.
November 16, 2022
Separate Like Stars by Diana Kane seemed to have a little bit of everything throughout the story. A second-chance love, a touch of celebrity, hot sex scenes, and heaps of angst. I listened to the audio version with Abby Craden narrating, and like a broken record, I will say again that she always adds to whatever book she does. Without her, I think this one may have dragged on for a bit too long, but she made it worth sitting through.
Jordan and Olivia meet as teens and form a friendship before falling in love. They are inseparable and have an amazing support system, even though living in a small town means having to hide their relationship from their peers.
After several years together they end up separate when Olivia pursues her dreams in France, leaving Jordan heartbroken and confused. More than a decade passes before they finally get a chance to talk about what happened, and they attempt to reforge their friendship.
As I said, there is a lot going on in this story. There are quite a lot of flashbacks, which I’m not a huge fan of, but they suit the style of this book, and it wouldn’t work without them. It is also told solely from Jordan’s point of view, which keeps the reader guessing and makes for a more enticing read.
Diana Kane creates a book spanning decades, and the character development, flaws, mistakes and angst, love, and support systems culminate in a beautiful story made that touch better with Craden’s narration.
Jordan and Olivia meet as teens and form a friendship before falling in love. They are inseparable and have an amazing support system, even though living in a small town means having to hide their relationship from their peers.
After several years together they end up separate when Olivia pursues her dreams in France, leaving Jordan heartbroken and confused. More than a decade passes before they finally get a chance to talk about what happened, and they attempt to reforge their friendship.
As I said, there is a lot going on in this story. There are quite a lot of flashbacks, which I’m not a huge fan of, but they suit the style of this book, and it wouldn’t work without them. It is also told solely from Jordan’s point of view, which keeps the reader guessing and makes for a more enticing read.
Diana Kane creates a book spanning decades, and the character development, flaws, mistakes and angst, love, and support systems culminate in a beautiful story made that touch better with Craden’s narration.
March 6, 2020
So beautiful and it left me breathless. Once in a while I find these soulful books, filled with emotions and complicated life-like characters. I couldn't put this book down, even when my heart tugged along, distraught, pained, joyous and melancholic, they took me down my own emotional memory lane. I'll pick this up again for a revisit.
December 5, 2018
This is a fairly long read and I’m not entirely sure it needed to be, but that being said, it’s a sweet and emotional story of the journey of two people who were important to each other early in their lives trying to navigate and define what their present relationship looks like. It was a good supporting cast, had engaging characters, had some banter thrown in here and there, and some love scenes scattered about.
November 13, 2018
4.5 stars. Good read!
December 12, 2018
Loved loved loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. I could relate to what was going on and fell in love with the main characters. I definite must read!
March 28, 2020
This is a great second chances story. Made me cry. I will be reading this again sometime.
November 11, 2018
Diana Kane has found her groove! I loved her previous stories but this one is my favorite. The emotional pull. The longing. The character development. I feel like The Velvet series started with a romance story and LOTS of sex gradually going towards romance with hot sex. This book was the perfect balance.
Jordan Cohen has a pretty famous girlfriend, is a best-selling author, family, yet she is lacking something. Olivia Bradley was the love that broke her heart. The story follows their young high school love to the present. 90s nostalgia to boot.
Jordan Cohen has a pretty famous girlfriend, is a best-selling author, family, yet she is lacking something. Olivia Bradley was the love that broke her heart. The story follows their young high school love to the present. 90s nostalgia to boot.
January 16, 2019
Wow. Loved this. I found it a little long at the end. But loved the characters so much I almost didn't notice.
4.5 stars rounded up
4.5 stars rounded up
abandoned-dnf
May 9, 2022okay no. i'm abandoning this again. i know this is going to just be a long slow them getting back together, but it's just gonna make me mad. i don't like the characters, i don't want them together, i'm just gonna find something else. maaaybe i'll try this again someday, but it might just be one of those ones that doesn't click.
August 26, 2024
OMG!! This diamond is from my TBR shelves! This is a love story starting with high schoolers Jordan and Olivia, first becoming best friends then lovers. They had an apartment together while Jordan was in college and Olivia was in culinary school. When Olivia gets the opportunity to continue in Paris.
This is a complex story, you'll laugh, cry, get frustrated but mostly you'll love this second chance love story. A FAVORITE!! Worth more than 5 stars!
This is a complex story, you'll laugh, cry, get frustrated but mostly you'll love this second chance love story. A FAVORITE!! Worth more than 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews