I liked this book, it was just okay. Nothing that sucked me and made me wanting more but nothing specific that I disliked either. It was an enjoyable read, but so wish there was something more to make me love it.

I was so interested in this book at the start, but I quickly became uninterested and turned off by the selfish and self-centered behavior of the main character, Vika. It really caused me to lose interest and just be ready to be done. I did enjoy the world building.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill is a YA sci-fi novel that blends romance, mystery, and class struggles in a futuristic world.

The story follows Vika, a girl raised in poverty who suddenly learns she is set to inherit a fortune—until the wealthy heir meant to marry her dies in an explosion. As she navigates high society, she crosses paths with Sky Foster, a boy with his own secrets, and the two become entangled in a deeper conspiracy. While the novel presents an intriguing premise with a Cinderella-like setup, Vika’s character can come across as frustratingly self-centered, making it difficult to fully root for her. However, the slow-burn romance and the central mystery keep the story engaging. Despite some predictable twists, *The Stars Between Us* delivers an entertaining mix of intrigue and romance for fans of space-set YA fiction.

In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability to keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.

A beautifully crafted sci-fi romance with an intriguing plot, though it occasionally feels a bit too predictable. The world-building is impressive, but some character motivations could have been fleshed out more. Overall, an enjoyable escape into space.

I don't know... Sci-fi and RomCom did not work for me, especially since it was insta-love which is an auto turn off for me. I enjoyed Vika for the most part, she was a good time and different from the run of the mill YA FMC.

Cristin Terrell’s The Stars Between Us is a heartfelt YA science fiction novel that explores themes of love, identity, and sacrifice in the vastness of space.

Although the writing was strong overall, some of the plot twists feel a bit too convenient, relying on familiar tropes rather than offering fresh surprises.

Overall, The Stars Between Us is an enjoyable read, particularly for fans of YA sci-fi who enjoy emotional depth and romance alongside action. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it offers a solid, heartfelt adventure that keeps readers invested.

Entertaining young adult book. There's a few different genres which make it even more fun. You won't want to put this down and will be sad that it's over when you finish.

This one is a bit hard for me to rate. I have so many nitpicks about this but overall it wasn't an entirely horrible read.

First things first, I will say this was pretty fast paced and entertaining, and I can see the appeal. However, this didn't 100% work for me.

For one, I could not STAND Vika. She was extremely shallow to me and very much all about herself and her looks and how she was better than her sister etc, that it just became grating after a while.

Second, the world building was severely lacking. You have one very poor planet and one very rich planet and that's basically it, we know nothing else.

Third, Sky was so pitiful at times that I just wanted to shake him. He allows everyone to walk all over him and talk to him in any way and just never stands up for himself until the very end of the book.

I felt that the majority of these characters were pretty bland and one dimensional, so it made it really hard for me to care for anyone.

I will say some of the twists were pretty interesting and worked seamlessly for the plot. I also felt the second definitely picked up more than the first half.

I really liked the written out accents for our characters and the mystery we were trying to solve.

The romance was a bit instalovey and I didn't buy the chemistry between our two love interests.

Overall, this just didn't work for me as well as I wanted it to, which is a shame because I really wanted to like this. I will say I was never bored and it was a very accessible read.

Thank to Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

I think this YA read would be good for young readers interested in sci-fi stories with a touch of very closed door romance.

Unfortunately, it did not work for me. Vika kept talking about feeling like she should help her family but never actually did. I also found a few of the plot points hard to believe such as the male character being unrecognizable in just glasses and some hair dye.

Not gunna lie, this book took me an eternity. Vika is insufferable for about 45% of the book and Sky is just as dimwitted. However, around 50-60% a miracle happens and the story just, I dunno - evolves? The mystery and the romance and sci-fi of it all meshed finally. I’m glad I powered through. I can’t fully recommend it because of the long suffering I suffered in this for so long, but I enjoyed it in the end and I guess that’s really what matters? Maybe?

The Stars Between Us is a fascinating and beautiful story. I loved the characters and I loved the storyline.

The Stars Between Us is a Young Adult romantic space opera. It is a retelling of Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

The heroine is 18 year old Viktoria/Vika. She is a barmaid living on the poor planet of Philomenus. She gets the opportunity to move to the richer planet Ploutos.

There is romance. There is a mystery. I was fascinated by it all. I love books set in space. And I really enjoyed seeing the glamorous lives of people on Ploutos.

When a very rich man from Ploutos dies Vika is named in his will. I really enjoyed all of the drama with the will. It made the book so much fun.

There are multiple possible love interests in this book, including Sky Foster who works for the husband that Vika is staying with. I thought that the romance was fun and the mystery was really good. And I absolutely loved the travel back and forth between the two planets. Overall this was an enjoyable read. Such a good YA book for those who love stories set in space.

this is pretty much only about a spoiled, selfish brat. gosh, i cant stand vika. there is a loose mystery happening, but the predictability and shallow nature of it all made my focus predominately be on how much i hated vika, which is never something you want to happen when reading a book. i actually think all of the characters are pretty one dimensional, so its such a shame that the story also suffered because of the lack of in-depth characterisation.

Overall, I struggled to enjoy this book. I'm not a fan of science fiction though the cover and title had pulled me into requesting it. I thought I would give it a try because the premise sounded interesting. However, I struggled to relate to Vika and the book wasn't as engaging or fast-paced as I expected it to be. Overall, it was a struggle to finish reading the book, and took well past the time at which it was published. Therefore, I wouldn't rate the book highly.

The book was interesting and engaging, and I was hooked on the main characters compelling arc. Additionally, the cover is very well designed and apt for the genre it fits into.

I had an okay time reading this one and I really enjoyed Vika’s characterization. She felt very real and made choices that made sense for her, even when I disagreed with them. Unfortunately, this book still fell a little flat for me. I am the biggest fan of Terrill‘s other books because of how twisty and complex and fun they are while still remaining YA.

This, however, had quite the simple plot and romance. I also saw the twist coming from 3000 light years away, which made for kind of an uninteresting reveal. The romance was also pretty unsatisfying, and I feel like the ending wrapped up way way way too quickly. I do not feel that this was bad by any means, I just wish it had the typical depth that I know the author can put into her stories.

3.5 stars - this reminded me of a Bridgerton story in space. It was a quick and enjoyable read. I would have given it four stars but it was a bit predictable.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Stars Between Us</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Stars Between Us</i> by Cristin Terrill is a young adult science fiction novel that follows Vika Hale, a girl from the lower echelons of society living on a poverty-stricken planet. Vika's life takes a drastic turn when she learns she is the heiress to a massive fortune left by a wealthy benefactor. As she is thrust into a world of luxury and intrigue, she must navigate a web of secrets and danger. Along the way, Vika discovers that the legacy left to her is intertwined with a mystery that could have far-reaching consequences for her world and beyond.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The idea of a young girl from a poor background suddenly inheriting a fortune and entering a world of high society is intriguing and sets the stage for a compelling story filled with mystery and drama.

Also, Terrill creates a richly detailed universe with distinct planets, societal structures, and technological advancements. The setting is immersive and adds depth to the narrative.

The novel explores themes of social inequality, power dynamics, and the impact of wealth on individuals and societies. These themes resonate well and add a layer of thoughtfulness to the story.

While Vika is a strong protagonist. I didn’t appreciate Vika’s sense of entitlement and how badly she treated others. Some secondary characters lack depth and development. Their motivations and backstories are not always fully explored, making them feel one-dimensional at times.

The novel's pacing can be uneven, with certain sections dragging while others feel rushed. This inconsistency can disrupt the flow of the story and affect reader engagement.

Some plot twists and developments are foreseeable, which can diminish the overall sense of suspense and excitement. Experienced readers of the genre might find some aspects of the storyline predictable.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Stars Between Us</i> by Cristin Terrill is a solid entry into the young adult science fiction genre with an engaging premise and vivid world-building. The exploration of class and power dynamics adds depth to the narrative, and Vika's journey from rags to riches is compelling. Terrill's imaginative universe and thematic exploration make "The Stars Between Us" a worthwhile read, despite its flaws.

This book was action-packed, suspenseful, and fun! I couldn’t put it down! I just loved everything about it! Definitely did not see that ending coming!