Title: Made of Stars
Author: Kelley York
Publication: October 1st 2013 by Entangled Teen
Series: Standalone
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Copy: Paperback bought @ California Capital Book Festival
Synopsis: When eighteen-year-old Hunter Jackson and his half sister, Ashlin, return to their dad’s for the first winter in years, they expect everything to be just like the warmer months they’d spent there as kids. And it is—at first. But Chance, the charismatic and adventurous boy who made their summers epic, is harboring deep secrets. Secrets that are quickly spiraling into something else entirely.
The reason they've never met Chance’s parents or seen his home is becoming clearer. And what the siblings used to think of as Chance's quirks—the outrageous stories, his clinginess, his dangerous impulsiveness—are now warning signs that something is seriously off. Then Chance's mom turns up with a bullet to the head, and all eyes shift to Chance and his dad. Hunter and Ashlin know Chance is innocent...they just have to prove it. But how can they protect the boy they both love when they can’t trust a word Chance says?
My Rating: 10/10
My Review: If you want to go into this book completely unprepared, as I did, you might not want to read this review. There aren't really any spoilers, but if you like reading books without knowing anything beforehand, and still want to know if it's a good book, It's a good book.
Wow. Okay. *deep breath* So. I picked up this book thinking it was going to be a cute little romance with a little bit of mystery, but overall typical YA. Soooo not what happened.
The first part of the book was, I admit, a little slow, but I was hooked from the beginning, even though (I thought) I knew exactly what would happen. I had everything all planned out in my head. The perfect ending where everyone is happy and everything works out, because that is what I have learned to expect, and because that is what everyone wants to read. Unfortunately (or maybe not??), that's not exactly what happened. I guess I've read so much YA that every time a TFIOS or Allegiant comes out, I am absolutely shocked. Like, wow, how dare you write this YA book that doesn't have a perfect ending and people die or are unhappy and is completely, absolutely realistic.
It's this huge wake-up call. On one hand, I really, really hate the fact that things don't turn out the way I want it to, but on the other hand, that's life. No matter how much I don't want to hear it, not everyone gets their happy ending. Depressing, right. Yet, every time I read a book like this, it makes me think. Also cry, but that's besides the point. And I like books that make me think. Because then I learn things. And experiencing sorrow and unhappiness (even though it's second-hand) makes me stronger.
So, overall, I have a love-hate relationship with this book, but I'm still going to force all of my friends to read it so they can experience the same pain I did...
About the Author: Once upon a time, Kelley York was born in central California. And it's there she she still resides with her wife, step-daughter, and way too many pets. Kelley is a sucker for dark fiction. She loves writing twisted characters, tragic happenings, and bittersweet endings that leave you wondering and crying. Character development takes center stage in her books because the bounds of a person's character and the workings of their mind are limitless.
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