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Starling
Edward Scissorhands meets When the Moon Was Ours in this “darkly whimsical…engrossing” ( Kirkus Reviews ) novel about two teen sisters who fight to protect the mysterious stranger who literally fell from the stars and into their backyard.
Strange things have always happened in the small town of Darling…
Yet Delta Wilding and her sister Bee are familiar with the peculiar. Raised by an eccentric father always on the hunt for the spectacular, they’re used to following weather patterns that twirl onto strange paths, a car that refuses to play any artist but one, and living in a sentient house with whims of its own. But when a mysterious boy falls from the stars into the woods behind the Wilding sisters’ farmhouse, nothing can prepare them for the extraordinary turn their lives are about to take.
Extraordinary, and dangerous.
Starling Rust is not from this world and his presence in the Wilding home brings attention. As the terrified locals, Delta’s ex-boyfriend, and the unscrupulous mayor descend onto their home, both Delta and her sister go to incredible lengths to protect their mystical visitor—especially as Delta’s growing feelings for Starling could prove the greatest risk of all.
Strange things have always happened in the small town of Darling…
Yet Delta Wilding and her sister Bee are familiar with the peculiar. Raised by an eccentric father always on the hunt for the spectacular, they’re used to following weather patterns that twirl onto strange paths, a car that refuses to play any artist but one, and living in a sentient house with whims of its own. But when a mysterious boy falls from the stars into the woods behind the Wilding sisters’ farmhouse, nothing can prepare them for the extraordinary turn their lives are about to take.
Extraordinary, and dangerous.
Starling Rust is not from this world and his presence in the Wilding home brings attention. As the terrified locals, Delta’s ex-boyfriend, and the unscrupulous mayor descend onto their home, both Delta and her sister go to incredible lengths to protect their mystical visitor—especially as Delta’s growing feelings for Starling could prove the greatest risk of all.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 2021
46 people are currently reading
2617 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Strychacz
3 books77 followersIsabel Strychacz is the author of the YA novel Starling (2021) and upcoming House of Thorns (out 2024). She grew up in a small town in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she read all the books she could find and wrote the books she couldn’t.
She received two degrees in English/Creative Writing and History from Mills College in Oakland, California, and is getting her MFA degree in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.
She currently lives in the heart of England with her husband Henry and daughter Imogen, and she works as a copywriter for a PR & Communications agency.
Strychacz is pronounced STREE-cash
She received two degrees in English/Creative Writing and History from Mills College in Oakland, California, and is getting her MFA degree in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.
She currently lives in the heart of England with her husband Henry and daughter Imogen, and she works as a copywriter for a PR & Communications agency.
Strychacz is pronounced STREE-cash
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
February 15, 2023
Ok, I’ve calmed down a bit from my original review. So I’ll break it down how I usually do with a little less -venom-
Plot: there wasn’t much going on. Mostly teens driving around, eating, and complaining internally about things that could be solved with communication.
Characters: there wasn’t much depth here. Pretty much all of them had one single defining trait that they constantly referenced in their internal monologues.
Overall: not my favorite book. It was very insta love, very typical villain with no real motive, and had a magic system that went very unexplained.
Content warnings: attempted murder, death of a parent.
_____________________________
If I could use one word to describe this book it would be "unlikable"
Whiny characters who make 0 decisions that make sense? unlikable
Insta-love repetitive plot? unlikable.
Stereotypical movie villain with no real motive? unlikable.
2 stars for the cover and the fact that if I were 12 this may have been more my style.
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
Plot: there wasn’t much going on. Mostly teens driving around, eating, and complaining internally about things that could be solved with communication.
Characters: there wasn’t much depth here. Pretty much all of them had one single defining trait that they constantly referenced in their internal monologues.
Overall: not my favorite book. It was very insta love, very typical villain with no real motive, and had a magic system that went very unexplained.
Content warnings: attempted murder, death of a parent.
_____________________________
If I could use one word to describe this book it would be "unlikable"
Whiny characters who make 0 decisions that make sense? unlikable
Insta-love repetitive plot? unlikable.
Stereotypical movie villain with no real motive? unlikable.
2 stars for the cover and the fact that if I were 12 this may have been more my style.
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
December 27, 2021
"We're from the same universe, aren't we? And we're both made of the dust of stars that collapsed billions of years ago. We may not be the same, but here we are, talking together. Living. You deserve to live, to feel. I think you know it too, deep down."
This book gave me everything I wanted from it: lush and lyrical prose, multiple POVs with complex characters, a romance I desperately wanted to happen, and a subtly magical setting.
Teenage sisters Delta and Bee are trying to survive after their father's sudden disappearance when they see a shooting star that lands in the woods behind their house. After feeling the impact like an earthquake, they find a boy lying in the woods and bring him home. Only, he's not really a boy, nor is he from this planet.
Some reviewers have called this ET romance but I'd liken it more to Stardust personally since the love interest is less like an alien and more like the personification of a fallen star. The writing style is whimsical in a Gaiman-like way.
If you're wondering/worried about how the Edward Scissorhands comparison comes in, it's only the strange-boy-in-a-peculiar-small-town loves girl-with-a-bad-boyfriend vibe, if you're familiar with the movie you can probably guess how things might unfold. It's not Christmasy either, even though I happened to read it over Christmas, this one takes place in the summertime. So if you weren't a fan of the tone of the movie don't worry, they aren't too much alike at all.
If you love SPACE and MAGIC and starry-eyed LOVE against all odds, pick this book up! I'm a huge romantic and I love stories where it's as if the universe conspired to get two unlikely people to cross paths so they can fall in love. But it's not just the romance, a large part of the focus is also on family and what it means to belong, what it means to be human, the choices we make, and the complexity of it all.
This book gave me everything I wanted from it: lush and lyrical prose, multiple POVs with complex characters, a romance I desperately wanted to happen, and a subtly magical setting.
Teenage sisters Delta and Bee are trying to survive after their father's sudden disappearance when they see a shooting star that lands in the woods behind their house. After feeling the impact like an earthquake, they find a boy lying in the woods and bring him home. Only, he's not really a boy, nor is he from this planet.
Some reviewers have called this ET romance but I'd liken it more to Stardust personally since the love interest is less like an alien and more like the personification of a fallen star. The writing style is whimsical in a Gaiman-like way.
If you're wondering/worried about how the Edward Scissorhands comparison comes in, it's only the strange-boy-in-a-peculiar-small-town loves girl-with-a-bad-boyfriend vibe, if you're familiar with the movie you can probably guess how things might unfold. It's not Christmasy either, even though I happened to read it over Christmas, this one takes place in the summertime. So if you weren't a fan of the tone of the movie don't worry, they aren't too much alike at all.
If you love SPACE and MAGIC and starry-eyed LOVE against all odds, pick this book up! I'm a huge romantic and I love stories where it's as if the universe conspired to get two unlikely people to cross paths so they can fall in love. But it's not just the romance, a large part of the focus is also on family and what it means to belong, what it means to be human, the choices we make, and the complexity of it all.
January 3, 2022
Well this was definitely a way to start off 2022 bc wow this book is definitely in my top five fav books now
Literally everything about it was amazing and I basically binged the whole thing in one day and I wanna go cry now bc it was so good and I love starling and delta so much🥲
Literally everything about it was amazing and I basically binged the whole thing in one day and I wanna go cry now bc it was so good and I love starling and delta so much🥲
November 10, 2021
Thank you to the author for an eARC from winning a giveaway.
THE ATMOSPHERE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Let me tell you I was GIDDY when I found out I won this giveaway. I’ve been hyped to read this book after following this author on Instagram for years. And y’all, get ready to add another book to your TBR.
The lush atmosphere of the town of Darling will transport you. I’m not usually one for a lot of prose and detail, but the way this was written had me captivated. I truly felt like I was there and that all of the detail I was getting was inherently important. The rotating multi-POV narrators captured many angles of the plot and really showed off some intricate characters who felt incredibly real.
Who knew I would highly enjoy an alien romance? Somehow over the course of just a few days I was allllll in the feels for Delta and Starling. They had this sense of magic about them and I loved all of the tiny interactions. It was an immediate connection that play the more “instant attraction” trope well.
The ending blindsided me. I realized just how emotionally invested and connected I was to Starling. I was wrapped up in the fray of chaos occurring and how those final scenes played out. THANK HEAVENS for an epilogue that gives me the hope and light for new horizons.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Paranormal Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses to one implied closed door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: missing Father, slut-shaming, gun violence, house fire, breaking and entering
THE ATMOSPHERE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Let me tell you I was GIDDY when I found out I won this giveaway. I’ve been hyped to read this book after following this author on Instagram for years. And y’all, get ready to add another book to your TBR.
The lush atmosphere of the town of Darling will transport you. I’m not usually one for a lot of prose and detail, but the way this was written had me captivated. I truly felt like I was there and that all of the detail I was getting was inherently important. The rotating multi-POV narrators captured many angles of the plot and really showed off some intricate characters who felt incredibly real.
Who knew I would highly enjoy an alien romance? Somehow over the course of just a few days I was allllll in the feels for Delta and Starling. They had this sense of magic about them and I loved all of the tiny interactions. It was an immediate connection that play the more “instant attraction” trope well.
The ending blindsided me. I realized just how emotionally invested and connected I was to Starling. I was wrapped up in the fray of chaos occurring and how those final scenes played out. THANK HEAVENS for an epilogue that gives me the hope and light for new horizons.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Paranormal Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses to one implied closed door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: missing Father, slut-shaming, gun violence, house fire, breaking and entering
December 20, 2021
pure magic, in the shape of a book. rtc.
June 14, 2022
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: harassment & mobs, home invasion, fire/arson, gun violence
3.5
Darling is a strange place- but most people don't know that. Only Delta and her family, living on the outskirts of town, know how odd things really are, with their house that seems alive and the door their father disappeared into months ago. But nothing has ever been less ordinary than the thing that fell out of the sky, right passed their backyard. What they thought was a meteor is a boy, a creature not quite human, who cannot go home and cannot stay here, where suspicion has already led more than one person in search of him.
I really love the lushness of this book, the way the magic is portrayed, the whole concept behind this story. But I wanted to like it more than I actually did,
The magic in this book reminded me of a mix of Good Omens and children's stories, and it felt like watching the cogs in a machine you'll never see the whole of move. I love the hints of strangeness, I love the way the house itself senses their moods, keeping them in a bubble no one will ever truly be able to make their way into. It's very atmospheric, which made it lovely to read.
And the concept sounded fantastic. The comparison to Edward Scissorhands only really lasts through the first few chapters, but I love a good small town disrupted by the unexplainably odd. And there were plenty of little pieces that were great to watch, decisions that made the book feel more real.
But there were so many things I just could not buy. And part of that is because this book isn't marketed right.
Right off the bat I knew this book was going to be different than I had been told- a magical realism, quiet story of magic and change. Instead, it's a sci-fi book with all the trappings of juvenile sci-fi. Which isn't a bad thing, but not what I expected to be getting into. When I think of people falling from the sky I think "Stardust", but this was more like ET.
I also feel, personally, that this would have been a more interesting book with fewer POVs. The second I realized we were getting Starling's POV I lost some interest, I felt less tension, and I liked him a whole lot less, because you can't avoid while reading his thoughts the fact that he is pretentious and talks like an immortal vampire.
Part of that complaint is, yes, that I don't like Starling- which I really, really did not- but I also just feel the focus on Delta was much more interesting and the lack of certainty between everyone gave the book a needed tension that you can't have when you're in everyone's heads.
I also wish the magic was more prevalent. It shows up in hints and shimmers, but I was waiting for the magic to take center stage, or, if not, become part of some explanation. But it felt more incidental. I also wanted more of an explanation for the town as whole, since it seemed to be painted with a pretty broad, cliche brush.
I also wasn't a fan of the two most important things to Delta- the romance, and Bee. Bee was so irritating for literally the entire book. How she decided to be annoying did change throughout, but using her as an obstacle and part-antagonist for the whole story made it very hard to connect to her or Delta's feelings towards her. As for the romance, I didn't like it because, as I've said, I didn't like Starling, he read as a pretentious immortal, and I just saw no good reason for him to be interested in her at all and still be that distant and other- and clearly think himself above all humans. I am not a fan of romances where the people involves see themselves on dramatically different levels, and I am also not a romance between teen girls and big, powerful, immortal-adjacent men.
I think that this author could do some great things, she obviously has good ideas and an enchanting writing style. But there were too many things I couldn't get into or rubbed me the wrong way for this to be the book for me.
Pre-review comments below
That cover 😳 That premise 😳 So glad I snagged an arc!
TW: harassment & mobs, home invasion, fire/arson, gun violence
3.5
Darling is a strange place- but most people don't know that. Only Delta and her family, living on the outskirts of town, know how odd things really are, with their house that seems alive and the door their father disappeared into months ago. But nothing has ever been less ordinary than the thing that fell out of the sky, right passed their backyard. What they thought was a meteor is a boy, a creature not quite human, who cannot go home and cannot stay here, where suspicion has already led more than one person in search of him.
I really love the lushness of this book, the way the magic is portrayed, the whole concept behind this story. But I wanted to like it more than I actually did,
The magic in this book reminded me of a mix of Good Omens and children's stories, and it felt like watching the cogs in a machine you'll never see the whole of move. I love the hints of strangeness, I love the way the house itself senses their moods, keeping them in a bubble no one will ever truly be able to make their way into. It's very atmospheric, which made it lovely to read.
And the concept sounded fantastic. The comparison to Edward Scissorhands only really lasts through the first few chapters, but I love a good small town disrupted by the unexplainably odd. And there were plenty of little pieces that were great to watch, decisions that made the book feel more real.
But there were so many things I just could not buy. And part of that is because this book isn't marketed right.
Right off the bat I knew this book was going to be different than I had been told- a magical realism, quiet story of magic and change. Instead, it's a sci-fi book with all the trappings of juvenile sci-fi. Which isn't a bad thing, but not what I expected to be getting into. When I think of people falling from the sky I think "Stardust", but this was more like ET.
I also feel, personally, that this would have been a more interesting book with fewer POVs. The second I realized we were getting Starling's POV I lost some interest, I felt less tension, and I liked him a whole lot less, because you can't avoid while reading his thoughts the fact that he is pretentious and talks like an immortal vampire.
Part of that complaint is, yes, that I don't like Starling- which I really, really did not- but I also just feel the focus on Delta was much more interesting and the lack of certainty between everyone gave the book a needed tension that you can't have when you're in everyone's heads.
I also wish the magic was more prevalent. It shows up in hints and shimmers, but I was waiting for the magic to take center stage, or, if not, become part of some explanation. But it felt more incidental. I also wanted more of an explanation for the town as whole, since it seemed to be painted with a pretty broad, cliche brush.
I also wasn't a fan of the two most important things to Delta- the romance, and Bee. Bee was so irritating for literally the entire book. How she decided to be annoying did change throughout, but using her as an obstacle and part-antagonist for the whole story made it very hard to connect to her or Delta's feelings towards her. As for the romance, I didn't like it because, as I've said, I didn't like Starling, he read as a pretentious immortal, and I just saw no good reason for him to be interested in her at all and still be that distant and other- and clearly think himself above all humans. I am not a fan of romances where the people involves see themselves on dramatically different levels, and I am also not a romance between teen girls and big, powerful, immortal-adjacent men.
I think that this author could do some great things, she obviously has good ideas and an enchanting writing style. But there were too many things I couldn't get into or rubbed me the wrong way for this to be the book for me.
Pre-review comments below
That cover 😳 That premise 😳 So glad I snagged an arc!
February 10, 2022
E.T. but make it angsty middle grade instalove.
Want to read
June 9, 2021oh look the promise of more of my fav tropes in a book
April 12, 2021
"I think the universe has a lot of coincidences."
I think the universe is rarely so careless
I was given a chance to read Starling early and it was beautiful!
Alien boyfie is not my usual troupe but Starling Rust might just change that. I love the sisterhood, the connection between Delta and Starling, the magical town Darling... even enjoyed the complicated relationship of Delta-Tag.
If you are looking for wholesome, romantic, standalone with gorgeous alien boy lead... look no more! This is your book!
I think the universe is rarely so careless
I was given a chance to read Starling early and it was beautiful!
Alien boyfie is not my usual troupe but Starling Rust might just change that. I love the sisterhood, the connection between Delta and Starling, the magical town Darling... even enjoyed the complicated relationship of Delta-Tag.
If you are looking for wholesome, romantic, standalone with gorgeous alien boy lead... look no more! This is your book!
January 10, 2022
this was beautiful!!! had so many interesting and complex characters ENJOYED IT SO SO MUCH I was so sad to see it end
January 10, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. I would’ve been OBSESSED if I had read this in middle/highschool. It’s a very YA novel, so adjust expectations for the genre. The only issues I had was the timeline felt a bit rushed and I want to know more about the mayors motivation. I loved the sister dynamic & I think they were very well written.
July 8, 2025
Starling was a miss. I read it for a book club challenge prompt, otherwise I most likely would have DNFed. The writing style was decent at times, but the story was stagnant overall. The cover is lackluster, and the conclusion fizzled out.
September 22, 2021
Than you to Netgalley and the publishing house for a chance to read an ARC of this book!
I have had Starling on my want to-read TBR for months now and am absolutely thrilled to be able to read an early copy! Strychacz has a mastery of atmosphere—chiseling and sculpting the setting into a character itself, haunting and alluring. The luscious prose only deepen the experience, leaving me breathless. The narration, cast of characters, whirlwind romance will sweep you off your feet right into the fall season!
I have had Starling on my want to-read TBR for months now and am absolutely thrilled to be able to read an early copy! Strychacz has a mastery of atmosphere—chiseling and sculpting the setting into a character itself, haunting and alluring. The luscious prose only deepen the experience, leaving me breathless. The narration, cast of characters, whirlwind romance will sweep you off your feet right into the fall season!
October 8, 2021
4 STARLINGS
This was so cute! At first, I got House of Hollow Vibes, but overall, it's more of if E.T. was a teen romance. Delta was a really likeable character and I just wanted the entire universe for her. Other characters like Bee and Tag were really well-developed for non-main characters in a YA book. And then Delta and Starling (i.e. Star King) - they were so cute and I really appreciated that it was not an insta-love trope scenario because I don't think that would have been very true to Delta.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for a chance to read an ARC of this book!
This was so cute! At first, I got House of Hollow Vibes, but overall, it's more of if E.T. was a teen romance. Delta was a really likeable character and I just wanted the entire universe for her. Other characters like Bee and Tag were really well-developed for non-main characters in a YA book. And then Delta and Starling (i.e. Star King) - they were so cute and I really appreciated that it was not an insta-love trope scenario because I don't think that would have been very true to Delta.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for a chance to read an ARC of this book!
December 8, 2021
An excellent debut in a great setting! I had been looking forward to this for a while after following Isabel's author journey on Instagram. It's a solid, whmisical, YA romance with a dash of Sci-Fi thrown in - think Aliens, if you're a fan of the show Roswell! The characters are good and not predictable, and they don't really fall in with the stereotypical YA character roles. Overall a perfect standalone novel with a nice, cosy atmosphere.
December 14, 2021
This sci-fi romance was one that I didn't think I was going to enjoy but man was I wrong this was a hit! This reminded me of an ET romance if that was ever a thing. I really enjoyed all of the characters and the in-depth look at this world. I loved everything about it! I just wished it would have been a series.
January 25, 2022
This is middle grades at best, and probably not even good middle grades. I wouldn’t recommend this to my daughter. It’s trite and every character is a stereotype and everything that happens is a trope.
At least Edward Scissorhands has that Danny Elfman score 🎵 and Winona dancing in the snow.
At least Edward Scissorhands has that Danny Elfman score 🎵 and Winona dancing in the snow.
November 25, 2021
I just love this book.
This was so awesome I just couldn't put it down. I stayed up all night for this. That's how wonderful this book is.
This was so awesome I just couldn't put it down. I stayed up all night for this. That's how wonderful this book is.
May 8, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I thought it was good, but not particularly memorable. But I liked it I guess.
I thought it was good, but not particularly memorable. But I liked it I guess.
February 1, 2022
"Starling" by Isabel Strychacz is a story of forbidden love between a girl and a star. With everyone in town threatening her safety, Delta must do everything she can to protect herself, her family, and the boy from the celestials. Starling is a multi-pov story (with majority of chapters from Delta's pov). The descriptions of the small town of Darling, the quaintness of the Wielding house, the lushness of the woods was beautiful and wonderfully atmospheric.
January 13, 2022
This book made me want to believe in the universe and it’s mysterious wonders. Everything happens for a reason and this story fulfilled my reason for reading. Such a relatable yet fantasy filled story.
November 16, 2021
While I struggled with this one a little bit on the reading journey, I needed to read it in it entirety to fully appreciate it. This is a story that had me fuming at times. And when I say it was the story that had me fuming, I mean the characters and their actions!!! Overall this book is solid, though. This is heartwarming and intense in emotion.
There are four main characters in this book: Delta, he younger sister Bee, Delta’s (sort of) ex boyfriend Tag and the mysterious boy who falls from the sky, Starling. In the town they live in, Delta’s family is outcasted and thought of as weird. It doesn’t help that Delta and Bee’s father really is weird and that he literally disappeared months ago. But he has always instilled in his daughters the understanding and the love of the unknown and unexplainable. These are things that the mayor of their town does NOT agree with. Mayor Rockford, Tag’s father doesn’t even hide his distaste for the family, causing a major rift between Delta and Tag.
When a meteor shower hits and something falls on Delta’s property, she isn’t the only one who notices. And the beautiful boy that she finds is in real danger if Mayor Rockford learns of his existence.
So begins a series of events, decisions and actions that will leave you questioning people’s motives… the one thing that had me in the fence about this book was that all four of these main characters all act in a way that they outwardly portray as live, but in actuality, their actions are incredibly selfish. For one reason or another, their decisions and actions are made to benefit themselves under the guise of doing what is right. It definitely becomes clear and they see the flaw in the design, but it doesn’t change the act that what’s done is done.
Even still, this book was really something and I could definitely understand the rationality of each person and the choices they made. This book had a whole lot of love in it and quite a bit of pulse pounding adventure.
There are four main characters in this book: Delta, he younger sister Bee, Delta’s (sort of) ex boyfriend Tag and the mysterious boy who falls from the sky, Starling. In the town they live in, Delta’s family is outcasted and thought of as weird. It doesn’t help that Delta and Bee’s father really is weird and that he literally disappeared months ago. But he has always instilled in his daughters the understanding and the love of the unknown and unexplainable. These are things that the mayor of their town does NOT agree with. Mayor Rockford, Tag’s father doesn’t even hide his distaste for the family, causing a major rift between Delta and Tag.
When a meteor shower hits and something falls on Delta’s property, she isn’t the only one who notices. And the beautiful boy that she finds is in real danger if Mayor Rockford learns of his existence.
So begins a series of events, decisions and actions that will leave you questioning people’s motives… the one thing that had me in the fence about this book was that all four of these main characters all act in a way that they outwardly portray as live, but in actuality, their actions are incredibly selfish. For one reason or another, their decisions and actions are made to benefit themselves under the guise of doing what is right. It definitely becomes clear and they see the flaw in the design, but it doesn’t change the act that what’s done is done.
Even still, this book was really something and I could definitely understand the rationality of each person and the choices they made. This book had a whole lot of love in it and quite a bit of pulse pounding adventure.
May 14, 2022
I have a proposition... could we please get this story again but this time make Tag the main love interest instead of Starling? Hear me out.
Tag as a character had so much more depth. He was complicated. He was a mess sometimes. He made mistakes. He loved Delta. He felt crushed from both external and internal pressure. He cared about the Wilding sisters. He was sometimes selfish. But he was also loyal. And that's what makes him such a good character.
Starling on the other hand is perfect. The entirety of his character revolves around one singular issue , and that is it. He has no emotions other than liking Delta and wanting to explore the new world. That's it. His character fell so flat for me that I didn't buy his love for Delta at all.
The basis for Delta’s love for Starling was that he was a mysterious alien space boy who happened to look very attractive. Like wowza he was attractive. Did I mention that he was attractive? Because Delta sure did. Multiple times.
Delta’s relationship with Tag had so much more depth! I was rooting for them to mend their broken relationship. Hence my proposition. I would have loved this book so much more if the romance could have been between Delta and Tag. Their fragile relationship would have gradually grown stronger and they would have developed more trust in one another as they worked together to save and protect the alien space boy. Any doubts they had about each other in the beginning would have been dispelled as they both took risks at their own personal expense to protect the greater good. I would have loved to see this.
Instead, we get an insta-love story with romance that somewhat made me cringe (Delta was seriously obsessed) and ended EXACTLY as I expected it to.
Tag as a character had so much more depth. He was complicated. He was a mess sometimes. He made mistakes. He loved Delta. He felt crushed from both external and internal pressure. He cared about the Wilding sisters. He was sometimes selfish. But he was also loyal. And that's what makes him such a good character.
Starling on the other hand is perfect. The entirety of his character revolves around one singular issue , and that is it. He has no emotions other than liking Delta and wanting to explore the new world. That's it. His character fell so flat for me that I didn't buy his love for Delta at all.
The basis for Delta’s love for Starling was that he was a mysterious alien space boy who happened to look very attractive. Like wowza he was attractive. Did I mention that he was attractive? Because Delta sure did. Multiple times.
Delta’s relationship with Tag had so much more depth! I was rooting for them to mend their broken relationship. Hence my proposition. I would have loved this book so much more if the romance could have been between Delta and Tag. Their fragile relationship would have gradually grown stronger and they would have developed more trust in one another as they worked together to save and protect the alien space boy. Any doubts they had about each other in the beginning would have been dispelled as they both took risks at their own personal expense to protect the greater good. I would have loved to see this.
Instead, we get an insta-love story with romance that somewhat made me cringe (Delta was seriously obsessed) and ended EXACTLY as I expected it to.
August 27, 2021
An imaginative, sweet, and exciting debut, the kind of story you'd wish for on a shooting star.
I love small towns with exciting happenings, and Starling sure fits that bill. A small, closed-minded town unaware of the frenetic energy building beneath them. An eccentric family whose patriarch disappeared inside a closet several months prior. Two sisters trying to survive high school and relationships without him. And all of that before a boy-shaped star falls from the sky, igniting suspicion and violence from the town.
All four of the main characters experience profound transformations and the romance is slow-burning and sweet. As I reflected on the book after finishing, there are quite a few questions (nee plot holes) I would have liked answered, and those are why my review is 3.5 stars. I think about 30 pages from the beginning could have been used more effectively at the end; and there are some stark contradictions that seem like an editor missed. My overall impression of the book is fun, tender, creative, and easily readable, especially once you get past the first 100 pages. I look forward to seeing how the final product reads.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Teen for the ARC via Wellesley Books.
I love small towns with exciting happenings, and Starling sure fits that bill. A small, closed-minded town unaware of the frenetic energy building beneath them. An eccentric family whose patriarch disappeared inside a closet several months prior. Two sisters trying to survive high school and relationships without him. And all of that before a boy-shaped star falls from the sky, igniting suspicion and violence from the town.
All four of the main characters experience profound transformations and the romance is slow-burning and sweet. As I reflected on the book after finishing, there are quite a few questions (nee plot holes) I would have liked answered, and those are why my review is 3.5 stars. I think about 30 pages from the beginning could have been used more effectively at the end; and there are some stark contradictions that seem like an editor missed. My overall impression of the book is fun, tender, creative, and easily readable, especially once you get past the first 100 pages. I look forward to seeing how the final product reads.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Teen for the ARC via Wellesley Books.
September 14, 2021
There are some writers whose stories I love, and some whose writing I love...and then there are a few who make me fall head over heels for both. Authors like Neil Gaiman, Laini Taylor, and Natalie Lloyd... and now Isabel is another!!
I was drawn in from page one by her cozy descriptions of the small town of Darling. It made me feel the way autumn mornings do, with a gentle chill in the air and the smell of falling leaves.
I read it one slowly because I'd been looking forward to it since I first heard about this story of small-town sisters, a boy who fell from the stars, and a whimsical old house that's just a little magical.
I loved how vivid the setting is. And I'm so here for the complex sister dynamic, and the mysterious, eccentric love interest. Plus the pickup trucks and flannel shirts and cozy small town setting gave me that fabulous fall feeling that I absolutely loved!!!
It's definitely a new favorite for me.
I was drawn in from page one by her cozy descriptions of the small town of Darling. It made me feel the way autumn mornings do, with a gentle chill in the air and the smell of falling leaves.
I read it one slowly because I'd been looking forward to it since I first heard about this story of small-town sisters, a boy who fell from the stars, and a whimsical old house that's just a little magical.
I loved how vivid the setting is. And I'm so here for the complex sister dynamic, and the mysterious, eccentric love interest. Plus the pickup trucks and flannel shirts and cozy small town setting gave me that fabulous fall feeling that I absolutely loved!!!
It's definitely a new favorite for me.
April 28, 2021
THANK YOU, to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for giving me this lovely ARC to devour.
I really enjoyed this book. It ticked a lot of my "favorite tropes" boxes, and was an overall really fun experience.
I'm not sure what would qualify as spoilers, so I'll hide my small positive and negative points under a read more, haha.
I really enjoyed this book. It ticked a lot of my "favorite tropes" boxes, and was an overall really fun experience.
I'm not sure what would qualify as spoilers, so I'll hide my small positive and negative points under a read more, haha.
November 18, 2021
I read a super early draft of Starling because I am friends with Isabel, and I can’t believe that it’s out already! I’m definitely a little biased in my review because I watched Isabel’s journey through publication, but I adored Starling so much (both the original version and this published one). If you’re looking for small town ~vibes~ that reminded me of The Raven Cycle, definitely pick this one up!! The romance is also just perfect. Isabel has definitely written an unforgettable book and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Now I just need to wait until my preorder arrives!
*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher
*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher
January 1, 2022
“There were towns, and then there were small towns, and then there was Darling.” This book was a perfect start to kick-off 2022. Atmospheric, romantic, magical.
December 29, 2021
First book I ever read dealing with the extraterrestrial and I surprisingly enjoyed it. Loved the setting as character, the love triangle, the stakes, and the character complexity.
February 24, 2022
3.75⭐
I'm a Tag apologist. Tag did nothing wrong and he deserves the world.
I'm a Tag apologist. Tag did nothing wrong and he deserves the world.
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